Phar Lap
The horse that inspired a nation during the Depression.
Phar Lap's life.
Born: 1926 Died: 1932 Height: 1.74m
Phar Lap was a champion Thoroughbred racehorse whose achievements captured the public's imagination during the early years of the Great Depression. Born in New Zealand, he was a chestnut gelding. Phar Lap was trained and raced in Australia by Harry Telford and Tom Woodcock. He triumphed during the Great Depression of the early 1930s, when a hero was most needed by the people of Australia. He conquered the local racing scene—36 wins from his last 41 starts—and then won North America's richest race, the Agua Caliente Handicap, in 1932. A fortnight later he died, struck down by a mystery illness that many suspected was the work of gangsters.
Phar Lap was a champion Thoroughbred racehorse whose achievements captured the public's imagination during the early years of the Great Depression. Born in New Zealand, he was a chestnut gelding. Phar Lap was trained and raced in Australia by Harry Telford and Tom Woodcock. He triumphed during the Great Depression of the early 1930s, when a hero was most needed by the people of Australia. He conquered the local racing scene—36 wins from his last 41 starts—and then won North America's richest race, the Agua Caliente Handicap, in 1932. A fortnight later he died, struck down by a mystery illness that many suspected was the work of gangsters.
Phar Lap's Australian identity.
Australians recognize him as a hero since he was raced in Australia and was the best thorough-bred racehorse in Australia of all time. He gave Australians reasons to cheer during very tough times. Some of his major achievements were winning the AJC Derby (1929) Victoria Derby (1929) Linlithgow Stakes (1930) Futurity Stakes (1930) Melbourne Cup (1930) Chipping Norton Stakes (1930) Cox Plate (1930 & 1931)