Phar Lap - heralded winner of 1930 Melbourne Cup
A DigitalNZ Story by Zokoroa
NZ-bred Phar Lap won 37 races in 3 years including the 1930 Melbourne Cup
Known at "the race that stops a nation", the Melbourne Cup is held on the first Tuesday of November at 3pm (5pm NZ time) at the Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne, Victoria. The first race was held in 1861 over two miles (3.219 km) but was shortened to its present-day distance of 3200 metres in 1972 when Australia adopted the metric system. One of the extolled wins took place on 4 November 1930, when Phar Lap won in 3:27.75 minutes, beating the second-placed horse by three lengths, to become the sixth NZ-bred winner. Phar Lap was the shortest-priced favourite with odds of 8-11 in the Melbourne Cup's history. Three days prior to the race, an unsuccessful attempt was made to shoot Phar Lap when returning to his stable after training work.
Born in Timaru on 4 October 1926, Phar Lap had run his first race in Sydney in February 1929 after being purchased by Australian-based businessman David Davis. Over the next three years, Phar Lap won 37 of the 51 races entered. As his popularity grew, Phar Lap became nicknamed 'The Red Terror’, ‘Big Red’, and 'The Wonder Horse', and was heralded with a number of souvenirs and statues in NZ and Australia. After a sudden illness, Phar Lap died of unknown causes in California on 5 April 1932, sixteen days after winning the Ague Caliente race in Mexico. At the time, he was the third-highest stakes-winner in the world. Phar Lap's skeleton is displayed at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, his mounted hide at the Melbourne Museum, and his heart at the National Museum of Australia.
By 2023, forty-four races have been won by NZ-bred horses - our first winner was Martini Henry in 1883 and the last was Verry Eleegant in 2021. One horse has won twice - Think Big in 1974 and 1975.
Official programme for the 1930 Melbourne Cup held on Tuesday 4 November
The Melbourne Cup has been held on the first Tuesday in November at the Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne since 1861
Museums Victoria
NZ-bred & Australia-owned Phar Lap & jockey Jim Price winning the 1930 Melbourne Cup in front of crowd of 72,000
Phar Lap was born 4 Oct 1926 in Timaru & bought at NZ Yearling Sales in Jan 1928 for Australian businessman David Davis
Museums Victoria
Film (32 sec) showing Phar Lap winning the Melbourne Cup's 2 mile race from a field of 15 horses
Phar Lap won in 3:27.75 mins, beating 2nd place Second Wind by 3 lengths. His Sydney trainer was Harry Telford.
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Presentation of Phar Lap's Melbourne Cup, who was NZ's 6th NZ-bred winner
1st NZ-bred winner was Martini Henry in 1883. By 2015, NZ-bred horses have won 43 times. Think Big won twice (1974 & 75)
Museums Victoria
Phar Lap was extolled as "a great racehorse" after winning the Melbourne Cup at odds of 8-11 (shortest in Cup history)
Phar Lap's favouritism was thought to be behind an unsuccessful attempt to shoot him three days prior to the Cup race
National Library of New Zealand
Phar Lap became nicknamed as ‘The Red Terror’, ‘Big Red’, and 'The Wonder Horse'
(Image: Rectangular mounted picture depicting Phar Lap & jockey Jim Pike)
Museums Victoria
Phar Lap's popularity increased from winning 37 of 51 races between Feb 1929 until his death on 5 April 1932
After a sudden illness, Phar Lap died of unknown causes in California after winning the Ague Caliente race in Mexico
Museums Victoria
Phar Lap's picture appeared on cake & tobacco tins, postcards, cigarette cards, & advertising posters for alcohol
Museums Victoria
Statue of Phar Lap at the Phar Lap Raceway in Washdyke, just north of Timaru
Timaru District Libraries
Phar Lap's skeleton is displayed at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
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Phar Lap born in Timaru, 4 Oct 1926
Phar Lap was foaled on 4 October 1926 at Alexander Roberts’ Seadown Stud at Timaru. His dam (mother) was the NZ-bred mare Entreaty (1920-1943). His sire (father) was the English-bred stallion Night Raid (b. 1918) who raced in England and Australia and was retired to stud in NZ in 1924. Night Raid was the great-grandson of Carbine who'd won the 1890 Melbourne Cup. After Phar Lap was born, he was not officially named as was the typical practice for yearlings that were to be sold, so that the new owner can choose the name. In the interim, common practice was to identify a young horse by a nickname or “barn” name and to identify them by their parentage -"sired by" and "out of", followed by their year of birth.
Find out more: Wikipedia: Phar Lap
Phar Lap was foaled at Alexander Roberts’ Seadown Stud at Timaru on 4 Oct 1926
His dam (mother) was the NZ-bred mare Entreaty & his sire (father) was the English-bred stallion Night Raid
Alexander Turnbull Library
Phar Lap's sire Night Raid had raced in England & Australia, and was retired to stud in NZ in 1924
Museums Victoria
Night Raid was the great-grandson of Carbine (1885-1914) who won the 1890 Melbourne Cup
Carbine raced 43 times for 33 wins, 6 seconds & 3 thirds & was unplaced only once when split a hoof
Auckland Libraries
Phar Lap's Pedigree Chart
(As was common practice, Phar Lap was not named at birth so that a new owner could choose the name after purchasing)
Museums Victoria
Phar Lap was a red chestnut colour with a white star on his forehead
He grew to 17 hands (1.74 metres) high and weighed 600 kilograms
Alexander Turnbull Library
Phar Lap became Australian-owned, Jan 1928
Phar Lap was sold as a yearling at the New Zealand Thoroughbred Yearling Sales held at the Trentham racecourse on 24 January 1928. As Phar Lap had not yet been named, his pedigree and age was listed under Lot 41 in the sales catalogue. Based on his pedigree, Phar Lap was purchased on the recommendation of Sydney trainer Harry Telford for businessman David J. Davis. Telford had been training horses for Davis and arranged for his brother, Hugh, who had a horse stable near Trentham, to attend the sales auction, where he was successful with a bid of 160 guineas.
Unnamed Phar Lap was offered for sale as Lot 41 at the NZ Thoroughbred Yearling Sales at Trentham on 24 Jan 1928
Based on pedigree listed in the catalogue, Sydney trainer Harry Telford recommended businessman David J. Davis purchase
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Harry Telford had been training horses for David Davis who agreed to finance a bid of up to 190 guineas for Phar Lap
Telford asked his brother Hugh, who had stables at Wellington, to attend sales auction & he successfully bid 160 guineas
National Library of New Zealand
Phar Lap shipped to Sydney & begins race-training
After Phar Lap was shipped to Sydney, David Davis and Harry Telford were unimpressed with their first sighting: "When he disembarked from the ship, the gangly chestnut was thin and his head was covered with pimples." (Source: Thoroughbred Heritage Portraits: Phar Lap) As Davis was not keen to pursue being involved with Phar Lap, Telford arranged to lease Phar Lap for three years. It was agreed that in exchange for covering the costs of training, feeding and stabling, Telford would keep two-thirds of any winnings. Telford then hired Aaron Treve ‘Tommy’ Woodcock as a strapper to assist with Phar Lap's training programme. After the three years lease arrangement concluded, Telford became a joint owner of Phar Lap with Davis.
Initially, the prospects of winning a race "didn’t look good for the first few months that Harry was training Phar Lap. Harry backed off the training for a while, gave Phar Lap a spell to get on with his growing (his full adult height was seventeen hands), had him gelded, then renewed the training." (Source: Museum of New Zealand - Te Papa Tongarewa: Phar Lap (1926-1932).
After shipping Phar Lap to Sydney, new owner David J. Davis was unimpressed with his thin & pimply-faced look
Davis advised Telford, who was also seeing Phar Lap for the first time, that he did not wish to race Phar Lap
Auckland Libraries
Telford leased Phar Lap from Davis for 3 years in exchange for 75% of any winnings. After 3 yrs, they became co-owners.
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Telford hired Aaron Treve ‘Tommy’ Woodcock as a strapper (groom / stablehand) for Phar Lap to compete in horse races
Woodcock (1905-1985) formed a close bond with Phar Lap whom he called "Bobby" & slept outside his stall on race days
Museums Victoria
Phar Lap was trained for a couple of months but his initial prospects for racing did not look promising
Telford spelled Phar Lap for a couple of months to grow as 2 yr old, had him gelded, & then resumed training
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
How Phar Lap got his name
The name Phar Lap derives from the common Zhuang and Thai word for lightning : ฟ้าแลบ [fáː lɛ̂p], literally 'sky flash'... According to the Museum of Victoria, Aubrey Ping, a medical student at the University of Sydney, suggested "farlap" as the horse's name. Ping knew the word from his father, a Zhuang-speaking Chinese immigrant. Phar Lap's trainer Harry Telford liked the name, but changed the F to PH to create a seven letter word, which was split in two in keeping with the dominant naming pattern of Melbourne Cup winners.
This certificate was issued in Sydney on 3 Dec 1928 to owner David Davis to register Phar Lap as a race horse
The name Farlap (Thai-Zhuang word for lightning) was suggested by Aubrey Ping to Telford who changed wording to Phar Lap
Museums Victoria
Phar Lap began racing in Australia in 1929
Harry Telford entered Phar Lap in his first race on 23 February 1929 at Rosehill where he came last. After being unplaced in his next three races, Phar Lap won his first race on 27 April 1929 - the Maiden Juvenile Handicap at Rosehill, ridden by 17 year old apprentice jockey Jack Baker of Armidale. After being spelled for two months, Phar Lap raced again in August 1929.
For a summary of Phar Lap's races from 1929 to 1932, see: Horse Directory Australia: Racing History: Phar Lap
His racing career: 51 Starts, 37 Wins, 3 Seconds, 2 Thirds, and 9 Unplaced.
Telford entered Phar Lap in his first race on 23 Feb 1929 (5.5 furlong Nursery Handicap at Rosehill). He came last.
As Phar Lap was weighted at only 6 stone 11 pounds, Teford's stable apprentice, 16 year old ‘Cashy’ Martin, rode him
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Phar Lap was unplaced in next 3 races; then won Rosehill's Maiden Juvenile Handicap on 27 April 1929
Ridden by 17 year old apprentice jockey Jack Baker of Armidale, he beat home 20 horses to win by half a length in 1:15.5
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
After being spelled for 3 months, Phar Lap resumed racing during Aug & was unplaced in his first 4 races
(Image: Phar Lap coming 4th at Warwick Stakes race, Sydney (31 Aug) which was won by NZ horse Limerick)
Auckland Libraries
Phar Lap came 2d in Chelmsford Stakes (14 Sept 1929) & won Rosehill Guineas (21 Sept 1929)
The Rosehill Guineas was run over 1 1⁄8 miles (1800 metres) & Phar Lap won by 3 lengths with jockey James L. Munro
Museums Victoria
Phar Lap, ridden by Jim Pike for the first time, won the AJC Derby held at Randwick, Sydney on 5 Oct 1929
Museums Victoria
Phar Lap won the AJC Derby by 4 lengths & ran the 1.5 miles in record time (2 mins & 31.25 secs)
Auckland Libraries
Presentation sash awarded to Phar Lap for winning the AJC Derby
Museums Victoria
Phar Lap won the Craven Plate on the third day of the Spring meeting held at Randwick on 9 Oct 1929
He won by 4 lengths in 2 mins & 11.25 secs
National Library of New Zealand
Presentation sash awarded to Phar Lap for winning the VRC Derby at Flemington on 2 Nov 1929 which was won in record time
Race was won in 2 mins & 31.25 secs. Jockey was Jim Pike. Phar Lap carried 55 kilos & was 2-9 favourite.
Museums Victoria
Phar Lap, ridden by Jim Pike, won the Victoria Derby on 1st day (4 Nov) of Melbourne Cup Carnival in 1929
He was the 2-9 favourite & won in record time (2 mins 31.25 secs), watched by a crowd of over 60,000
Museums Victoria
Phar Lap, ridden by Bobby Lewis, came 3rd in the 1929 Melbourne Cup (5 Nov) behind NZ-bred Nightmarch & Paquito
Regular jockey Jim Pike was unable to make the weight requirement. Nightmarch's sire was Night Raid (same as Phar Lap)
Auckland Libraries
Photographer Mark Friend, trainer Tommy Woodcock & the Bacchus Marsh Field Manager standing beside Phar Lap
Museums Victoria
Betting ticket, issued by bookmaker Reg McKay at Randwick Racecourse in 1930 for a wager of 1800 pounds on Phar Lap
Museums Victoria
Presentation sash awarded to Phar Lap for winning the AJC St Leger at Randwick on 19 April 1930
The race was 1.75 miles (2800 metres)
Museums Victoria
Phar Lap, seen here with jockey Jim Pike at Flemington racetrack, Melbourne, c.1930
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Phar Lap wins 1930 Melbourne Cup
The Melbourne Cup Carnival is held over four days: Day 1: Victoria Derby Day; Day 2: Melbourne Cup Day; Day 3: Oaks Day; and Day 4: Stakes Day. Leading up to the 1930 Melbourne Cup Carnival, Phar Lap had won 15 of his last 16 starts (which included 3rd place in the 1929 Melbourne Cup).
News media reported that as Phar Lap's successful run continued, an attempt was made to shoot him on the eve of the Melbourne Cup Carnival on 1 November 1930:
"Early on Saturday morning an attempt was made at Caulfield to kill or maim the Melbourne Cup favourite Phar Lap. The horse was returning to the stable after his training work, when a shot was fired from a motor car, which was immediately driven away. Phar Lap was not injured, and later in the day he brilliantly won the Melbourne Stakes at Flemington."
Source: Trove: The Argus, "Shot fired at Phar Lap", (Monday, 3 Nov 1930, p. 8)
Phar Lap continued his successful form by achieving victories on each of the four days of races, including becoming the sixth NZ-bred horse to win the Melbourne Cup on 4 November 1930. After their three-year lease agreement finished at the end of 1930, David J. Davis and Harry Telford became joint owners of Phar Lap with Telford paying £4000.
During 1930 Melbourne Cup Spring Racing Carnival, Phar Lap won races on all four days (1 Nov - 4 Nov)
(Poster with finish photographs of the four races - Derby Day, Cup Day, Oaks Day and Stakes Day
Museums Victoria
Phar Lap winning the Spring Stakes on the opening day of the A.J.C. meeting
Auckland Libraries
Jim Pike Riding Phar Lap to victory at the Victoria Derby Day Meeting held on 1 Nov 1930
Museums Victoria
After their 3 year lease agreement finished at the end of 1930, Davis & Telford became joint owners of Phar Lap
Telford purchased half of Phar Lap for £4000
Museums Victoria
Phar Lap continues to race in Australia during 1931
During Feb-March 1931, Phar Lap entered five races, winning four in a row, followed by a third placing. After a spell from racing, he resumed racing on 25 August 1931, winning 8 races in a row. His last race held in Australia was the Melbourne Cup on 1 November 1931 when he ran eighth, carrying a record weight of 10st 10lbs (68 kgs).
From 14 Feb - 4 March 1931, Phar Lap won 4 races in a row; then came 2d in the CM Lloyd Stakes on 4 March
Phar Lap was defeated in the CM Lloyd Stakes by NZ-bred Waterline
National Library of New Zealand
After a spell, Phar Lap resumed racing on 25 August 1931 and won 8 races in a row
Museums Victoria
Phar Lap's last race in Australia was 1931 Melbourne Cup & he achieved 8th place behind the winner White Nose (pictured)
Phar Lap carried 10st 10lbs (68kgs), which was five pounds more than weight-carrying record of Carbine in 1890
National Library of New Zealand
Phar Lap shipped to Wellington en route to Mexico, Nov 1931
After Phar Lap won the Melbourne Cup, Davis was keen to have him race in North America. However, Telford did not wish to accompany Davis as he had training commitments with horses in Sydney. Instead, Telford nominated that Davis engaged Phar Lap's strapper Tommy Woodcock as his new trainer.
Davis wanted to race Phar Lap in the Agua Caliente Handicap in Mexico but Telford was not keen to go
The Agua Caliente Handicap was the richest race in North America with prize money of US$100,000
Alexander Turnbull Library
As Telford had other horses to train in Sydney, he nominated Tommy Woodcock as Phar Lap's strapper & trainer
Image: Strapper Tommy Woodcock & the field manager at Bacchus Marsh in Victoria standing next to Phar Lap
Museums Victoria
Mark Friend with Phar Lap at Bacchus Marsh just prior to Phar Lap's departure from Sydney Harbour on Friday 20 Nov 1931
Phar Lap was to sail to Wellington for 5 weeks & then onto San Francisco to travel to Mexico
Museums Victoria
Phar Lap & Woodcock arrived in Wellington on 24 Nov 1931 to spend 5 weeks before travelling to Mexico
They stayed at the stables owned by Harry Telford's brother Hugh
Auckland Libraries
Phar Lap's arrival at Wellington aboard the Ulimaroa was greeted by a large crowd
National Library of New Zealand
Phar Lap was kept at the stables of Harry Telford's brother Hugh near Trentham
Alexander Turnbull Library
Photograph - Phar Lap, Tommy Woodcock & Gerald Telford, 1931
Museums Victoria
Phar Lap in a rye paddock at Hugh Telford's stables, Trentham, Upper Hutt
Alexander Turnbull Library
Men inspecting Phar Lap
Alexander Turnbull Library
Men inspecting Phar Lap
Alexander Turnbull Library
Racehorse Phar Lap being exercised at Hugh Telford's stables, Trentham, Upper Hutt
Alexander Turnbull Library
Racehorse Phar Lap, and other horses, at Hugh Telford's stables, Trentham, Upper Hutt
Alexander Turnbull Library
Phar Lap travels to Mexico to race on 20 March 1932
Phar Lap was shipped from Wellington to San Francisco to race in the ‘Agua Caliente’ in Tijuana, Mexico which was being held on 20 March 1932.
Phar Lap photographed at Trentham, Wellington, prior to his departure for San Francisco
Auckland Libraries
Phar Lap at Trentham with his attendant Tommy Woodcock
L-R: Rt Hon Joseph Gordon Coates, Oswald Stephen Watkins, David Jones, Brigadier James Hargest & Adam Hamilton
Alexander Turnbull Library
Phar Lap's quarters on deck of SS MONOWAI
Australian National Maritime Museum
Phar Lap's quarters on deck of SS MONOWAI
Australian National Maritime Museum
Phar Lap's quarters on deck of SS MONOWAI
Australian National Maritime Museum
Arrival at Agua Caliente, March 1932
Phar Lap arriving at Mexico
Auckland Libraries
Phar Lap & his trainer Tommy Woodcock in Mexico
Museums Victoria
A sand heap at Agua Caliente was one of the training methods used to prepare Phar Lap
Auckland Libraries
Phar Lap was to be ridden by jockey Billy Elliot
Museums Victoria
Jockey Billy Elliot & Phar Lap in trackwork at Agua Caliente Racecourse, Mexico, on 13 March 1932
Museums Victoria
Programme issued by the Agua Caliente Jockey Club for Sunday 20 March 1932
Museums Victoria
Phar Lap won the Agua Caliente on 20 March 1932, which was his first race outside Australia
Phar Lap won by 3 lengths from Reveille Boy in track-record time while carrying 129 pounds (58.5 kg)
Alexander Turnbull Library
Phar Lap died in California on 5 April 1932
Sixteen days after winning the Ague Caliente, Phar Lap died in San Francisco under mysterious circumstances on 5 April 1932. Whereas some thought he had been poisoned with arsenic, others believed that he had died of an infection.
Sixteen days after winning the Ague Caliente, Phar Lap died in San Francisco on 5 April 1932
Museums Victoria
Phar Lap's death was under mysterious circumstances, with theories ranging from being poisoned to dying of an infection
Radio New Zealand
Poem - M.E. Northcott, The Death of Phar Lap, 1932
Museums Victoria
Street Ballad - Good Bye, Phar Lap, Good Bye!, 1932
Museums Victoria
Newspaper Cutting - Phar Lap's Career Earnings, 1932
Museums Victoria
Auckland Weekly News (13 April 1932) feature photographs of Phar Lap following his death
Auckland Libraries
Memorabilia
Phar Lap's picture began to appear on drawings, framed photographs, postcards, cigarette cards, cake tins, tobacco tins, advertising posters for beer and wine, and on trinkets. Movies and books were also published.
Picture - A.E. Patrick, Phar Lap & Jim Pike, Mounted, 1930s
Museums Victoria
Photograph - Phar Lap Headshot, Framed, 1930s
Museums Victoria
Photograph - Jimmy Pike & Phar Lap Racing, Framed, 1930s
Museums Victoria
Cake Tin - Phar Lap, Metal, 1930s
Museums Victoria
Tobacco Tin - Myona Cigar Company, Phar Lap, 1931-1932
Museums Victoria
Cut Throat Razor - Phar Lap Theme, J. Dirlam & Sons, 1930s
Museums Victoria
Painting - Fisher M.Collingridge, Phar Lap, Oil, 1930s
Museums Victoria
Embroidery - Phar Lap, Framed, 1930s
Museums Victoria
Picture - Stuart Reid, Phar Lap with Jim Pike, Mounted, 1931
Museums Victoria
Statuette - Phar Lap, Plaster, 1930s
Museums Victoria
Apron - 'Phar Lap Australia's Own', 1930s
Museums Victoria
Advertising Print - Penfolds Wines, Phar Lap, 1932
Museums Victoria
Horse Rug - Brown & White Check Wool, Phar Lap, 1932
Museums Victoria
Book - Allan Brennan, `The Life Story of Jimmy Pike', circa 1933
Museums Victoria
Postage Stamp - Brian Clinton, Phar Lap, 1978
Museums Victoria
Rosette - Phar Lap Appeal, Museum Victoria, 1980
Museums Victoria
Medal - Phar Lap, Gold, Museum Victoria, Australia, 1983
Museums Victoria
Medal - Phar Lap, Silver, Museum Victoria, Australia, 1983
Museums Victoria
Medal - Museum of Victoria, Phar Lap, Silver, 1983 (AD)
Museums Victoria
Book - Helen Townsend, 'Phar Lap', Lansdowne Press, 1983
Museums Victoria
Film Poster - Edgley Ventures, Phar Lap Motion Picture, 1983
Museums Victoria
Film Poster - 20th Century Fox, A Horse Called Phar Lap, 1983
Museums Victoria
Card - Edgley Ventures, Phar Lap Motion Picture, 1983
Museums Victoria
Book - The Phar Lap Story
Museums Victoria
Colouring Book - Budget Books, Phar Lap Motion Picture, 1983
Museums Victoria
Calendar - Murfett, Phar Lap Motion Picture, 1984
Museums Victoria
Model Kit - Breyer Animal Creations, Phar Lap, 1984
Museums Victoria
Eraser - Phar Lap, Museum Victoria, 1986
Museums Victoria
Souvenir Spoon - Randa Collector Spoon, Phar Lap, 1986
Museums Victoria
Sticker - Phar Lap, 1986
Museums Victoria
Booklet - 'Phar Lap His Life', Activity Book, 1986
Museums Victoria
Bookmark - Museum Victoria, Phar Lap, 1986
Museums Victoria
Key Ring - Phar Lap, 1986
Museums Victoria
Charm - Perfection Souvenirs, Phar Lap, 1986
Museums Victoria
Tea Towel - `A Tribute to Phar Lap', 1986
Museums Victoria
Cloth Badge - Phar Lap, 1986
Museums Victoria
Mug - Phar Lap, Museum of Victoria, 1990s
Museums Victoria
Poster - Phar Lap, Museum Victoria Members Magazine, Mar 1999
Museums Victoria
Painting - Jimmy Pike, Phar Lap, Acrylic, 2000
Museums Victoria
Phar Lap
South Canterbury Museum
Booklet - Racing Victoria, Phar Lap 75th Anniversary, 2005
Museums Victoria
Phar Lap : the untold story
South Canterbury Museum
Phar Lap displayed at NZ & Australian museums
Phar Lap's mounted hide is displayed at the Melbourne Museum, his skeleton at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, and his heart at the National Museum of Australia.
Phar Lap
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Phar Lap's mounted hide is at the Melbourne Museum
His hide was mounted by taxidermist Louis Paul Jonas & displayed at Belmont Park before being sent to Australia
Museums Victoria
Phar Lap's skeleton is displayed at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
The story of Phar Lap's skeleton
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Reconstruction of racehorse Phar Lap's skeleton (time lapse)
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Phar Lap's bones requested for 150th Melbourne Cup
Radio New Zealand
Tales From Te Papa - Phar Lap
NZ On Screen
Phar Lap's heart is at the National Museum of Australia
Phar Lap's heart weighed 6.2 kilograms (14 lb), compared with a normal horse's heart at 3.2 kilograms (7.1 lb)
National Library of New Zealand
Bits of Phar lap's heart found in museum
Radio New Zealand
University of Adelaide involved in analysing Phar Lap’s DNA provided by Te Papa to determine speed & strength, 2013
The University of Sydney's Veterinary Science team led the project
Radio New Zealand
Pair of Horseshoes - Phar Lap, 1930s
Museums Victoria
Saddle - Training, Phar Lap, 1930s
Museums Victoria
Saddle - Billy Elliot, Phar Lap, 1930s
Museums Victoria
Sample of Horse Hair - Phar Lap, 1931
Museums Victoria
Shin Pads - Phar Lap, 1928-1932
Museums Victoria
Bridle - Phar Lap Mount, 1932
Museums Victoria
Surcingle - Alex Morrison, Phar Lap
Museums Victoria
Girth Strap - Alex Morrison, Phar Lap
Museums Victoria
Brush - Mane & Tail, Phar Lap
Museums Victoria
Harry Telford, Race Horse Owner & Trainer (1877-1960)
Museums Victoria
Statues and Raceway
Life-size bronze statue of Phar Lap & Jim Pike unveiled on 25 Nov 2009 at entrance to the Phar Lap raceway near Timaru
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
RNZ interviews sculptor Joanne Sullivan-Gessler (26 Nov 2009: 3 mins 13 secs)
Radio New Zealand
Phar Lap statue unveiled
Timaru District Libraries
The Phar Lap Raceway at Washdyke is the home of the Timaru Racing Club
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Phar Lap was honoured with a life-size statute unveiled at Flemington in Oct 2009
Timaru District Libraries
Phar Lap memorial statue stands at Seadown where he was born on 4 October 1926
Plaque includes: 'Died California 5th April 1932. 51 race starts. 31 wins. 5 placings. Total earnings 66,738 pounds.’
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Honours
Australian Racing Hall of Fame (inducted in 2001)
New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame (inducted in 2006)
Australian Horse of the Year (1930/31 and 1931/32)
Australian champion 3-year-old male (1929/30)
Australian champion older male (1930/31 and 1931/32)
Ranked #22 among the top 100 American racehorses of the 20th century by an expert panel assembled by The Blood-Horse (Thoroughbred Champions, Eclipse Press, 7th printing, 2005)
Several residential streets are named 'Phar Lap' or 'Pharlap' in NZ, Australia, and the United States.
Find out more:
This DigitalNZ story was updated in October 2024