Phar Lap
Phar Lap was a highly celebrated racehorse born in Timaru, New Zealand, in 1926, whose remarkable career captivated audiences during the Great Depression in Australia. Known as the 'Red Terror' due to his chestnut color, he gained fame for his impressive racing record, winning 37 of 51 races, including the prestigious 1930 Melbourne Cup. Phar Lap's humble beginnings and extraordinary success resonated with a nation facing economic hardship, making him a symbol of hope and resilience. His career took him to North America in 1932, where he won the Agua Caliente Stakes, considered the richest horse race in the world at that time. Tragically, just weeks later, he died under mysterious circumstances, leading to various conspiracy theories about his demise. Modern investigations suggest that he likely succumbed to accidental arsenic poisoning, possibly from a tonic commonly used in that era. Today, Phar Lap remains an enduring legend in Australian culture, with his taxidermy mount and oversized heart displayed in museums, and he continues to inspire stories and films celebrating his legacy.
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Phar Lap
Phar Lap was a New Zealand-born racehorse that rose to iconic status in Depression-era Australia. Nicknamed the ‘Red Terror’ for his chestnut-red color, the colt captured the 1930 Melbourne Cup and won thirty-seven times in fifty-one career races. Australians were captivated by his underdog origins and his dominance on the racetrack. In 1932, he made his debut in North America and was set to compete on the American racing circuit when he died suddenly. The mysterious nature of Phar Lap’s death sparked numerous conspiracy theories, but modern science has since determined he likely died from accidental poisoning.
Brief History
Phar Lap was born in Timaru, New Zealand, in 1926. He was bred from New Zealand mare Entreaty and English sire Night Raid, who had an undistinguished racing career in England despite being descended from a championship lineage. Australian trainer Harry Telford was intrigued by the young horse’s ancestry and bought the colt in 1928 with financial backing from an American businessperson. He named the colt Phar Lap, from the Thai word for lightning, farlap, or ‘flash on the sky.’
Impact
Phar Lap did not seem to have the look of a champion. He had an awkward stride that brought to mind the gait of a giraffe and was described as an ‘ugly duckling.’ His career got off to an inauspicious start as the colt finished last in his maiden race and won only once in his first nine races. However, Phar Lap began to raise eyebrows in September 1929 when he finished a strong second in the Chelmsford Stakes. From that point on, the colt was nearly unbeatable. He won thirteen of his next fifteen races that season and won fourteen of sixteen over the course of the next season. Included in that total was a win in the 1930 Melbourne Cup, Australia’s most prestigious race.
Phar Lap’s dominance made him a household name and a national hero. His humble beginnings grabbed the attention of everyday Australians who were suffering through the economic woes of the Great Depression. In the 1931 season, Phar Lap won eight of nine races before his owners decided it was time to take on the North American racing scene. In March 1932, Phar Lap ran in and won the Agua Caliente Stakes in Mexico. At the time, the Agua Caliente Stakes was the richest horse race in the world.
However, just sixteen days later, Phar Lap fell ill at a track in California and died. Australians were heartbroken upon hearing the news, and soon, speculation began to run wild about the cause of the colt’s death. Initial theories ran from a bacterial infection to intentional poisoning by American mobsters. In the 2000s, Australian researchers determined Phar Lap was most likely killed by ingesting arsenic, possibly administered as part of a tonic. In the 1930s, arsenic was a common ingredient in medicinal tonics given to horses.
Almost a century later, Phar Lap continues to be a legend in the Australian sporting world. His heart, which weighs an unusually large 14 pounds (6.35 kilograms), is on display at the National Museum of Australia. His stuffed hide is also on display at the National Museum of Victoria. The colt was even the subject of a 1983 film.
Bibliography
Lowry, Biff. Killing Phar Lap. Author House, 2014.
Martiniak, Liz. “Phar Lap.” Thoroughbred Heritage, www.tbheritage.com/Portraits/PharLap.html. Accessed 16 Jan. 2025.
Monaco, Pete. “The Dramatic Life and Times of Legendary Australian Race Horse, Phar Lap.” The Spectrum, 20 Mar. 2018, www.thespectrum.com/story/sports/2018/03/20/dramatic-life-and-times-legendary-australian-race-horse-phar-lap/439831002. Accessed 16 Jan. 2025.
“Phar Lap.” IMDb, www.imdb.com/title/tt0086102. Accessed 16 Jan. 2025.
“Phar Lap, Champion Race Horse (1926–1932).” Museums Victoria, collections.museumsvictoria.com.au/articles/1628. Accessed 16 Jan. 2025.
“Phar Lap Collection.” National Museum of Australia, www.nma.gov.au/explore/collection/highlights/phar-lap-collection. Accessed 16 Jan. 2025.
Salleh, Anna. “Phar Lap Killed by Arsenic, Expert Confirms.” ABC News, 11 May 2010, www.abc.net.au/news/2010-05-11/phar-lap-killed-by-arsenic-expert-confirms/431096. Accessed 16 Jan. 2025.
Taylor, Beth. “Phar Lap Forever.” National Film and Sound Archive of Australia, www.nfsa.gov.au/latest/phar-lap-forever. Accessed 16 Jan. 2025.
“What or Who Killed Phar Lap?” Past the Wire, 24 June 2019, pastthewire.com/what-or-who-killed-phar-lap. Accessed 16 Jan. 2025.