Margaret Collyer (British, 1872-1945)


La Fleche signed and dated 'M Collyer 1893' (lower left); further inscribed 'La Fleche' (lower right)oil on canvas 24 x 34.5cm (9 7/16 x 13 9/16in).
|La Fleche (1889–1916) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse. Sold for a world record price in 1890, and in 1891 remaining undefeated as a two-year-old, she won races against both her own sex and leading colts. Standing at just under sixteen hands high, she continued her success to become the dominant British three-year-old of 1892. During this year she claimed the Fillies' Triple Crown by winning the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket, the Oaks at Epsom and the St Leger at Doncaster. La Fleche remained in training for another two seasons, winning important races such as the 1893 Liverpool Autumn Cup, the 1894 Ascot Gold Cup, and on her final appearance the Champion Stakes. In all, she won sixteen times in twenty-four racecourse appearances. After her retirement from racing she became a successful and influential broodmare.