Bred by the Moen Thoroughbred Farm in Mayville, N.D., the granddaughter of Hoist The Flag was purchased as a weanling by Dan and Bev Mjolsness' Seven Springs Farm in Red Wing.
Steven Davidowitz, noted author and race handicapper, writing about the impact of Hoist Her Flag on Minnesota horseracing, declared, "When the history of racing at Canterbury Downs is written, the exploits of the Silver Gray sprinter, Hoist Her Flag, will occupy an important chapter."
Considered as a member of the Mjolsness family, her long life ended at the Barrington Hills Farm, home of son and daughter-in-law, Dan and Cindy Mjolsness.
Her friendly, curious and responsive character won the hearts of neighbors and family members.
Given the honorary title, " Queen of Canterbury " the flashy gray mare reeled off 19 wins, nine seconds and five thirds at the Shakopee track and in Illinois from 1985 to 1989.
She consistently beat such well-known Midwest sprinters as Lil Preppy, Castle Lass, Moonbean McQueen, Orphan Kist, Memories of Dixie, Joel, Momsfurrari and Pentelicus.
She set track records at 5, 6 and 61/2 furlongs. Twice named Canterbury's horse of the year, and elected by race fans to the Canterbury Park Hall of Fame, she was further honored by having an annual race, the Hoist Her Flag Stakes, named for her.
Jim Dunleavy, writing in the Daily Racing Form about the inauguration of the Hoist Her Flag Stakes, said: "Hoist Her Flag symbolized all that was good about the sport during her five seasons of competition. She was fast, game and consistent and she won a legion of fans during her glory days by proving her class time and again."
In 1989 Hoist Her Flag was ranked the 12th best filly or mare sprinter in the Thoroughbred Times rankings.
Donna Barton Brothers, former leading female jockey, and current national television racing analyst, who rode hoist Her Flag to victory in six consecutive contests and scored in her final race, the Shakopee Handicap, shared the feelings of her many fans when she said, "Everybody who saw her run is going to miss her ... but I thank God for the opportunity to ride this horse."
Later in a letter to Hoist's owners, she noted that she included Hoist as one of the top three mounts of her riding career.
Of her 19 wins, 11 were stakes races, and despite a dramatic decline in purses at Canterbury Downs during her racing career, she earned $290,000 in purses.
Hoist Her Flag produced three daughters: First Flag by Woodman, Hoist's Danzer by Danzig and La Gran Bandera by El Gran Senor.Her Legacy is continuing through her extended family with representatives in Canada, Japan, Puerto Rico and the United States.