In 2006, Australian Synchrotron Research scientists said it was almost certain Phar Lap was poisoned with a large single dose of arsenic in the hours before he died, perhaps supporting the theory that Phar Lap was killed on the orders of US gangsters, who feared the
The official autopsy determined that the horse died through “some poison substance in his stomach.” Experts from the U.S. Bureau of Food and Drugs conducted an investigation and determined that lead arsenate sprayed on oak trees on the ranch was spread by the wind and into the stable of Phar Lap, causing his death.
The horse Phar Lap is a legend of Australian sporting history. His sensational rise from humble beginnings captured the public's imagination during the difficult years of the 1930s Depression. Phar Lap won 37 races from 51 starts, including the 1930 Melbourne Cup.
Shergar, a beloved thoroughbred racehorse worth over $15 million, was kidnapped from his stable in County Kildare by a gang of machine gun-wielding men in balaclavas. After failed attempts to demand money for the stallion, gentle Shergar was brutally killed and his body was never found.
ON THE MORNING of Tuesday, 5 April 1932, Phar Lap, the racehorse legend, mysteriously collapsed at a farm outside San Francisco 16 days after he won the Agua Caliente handicap in Tijuana, Mexico. He died in the arms of Tommy Woodcock, his dedicated strapper and mate.
Phar Lap was initially a failure as a racehorse, losing his first four races. However, in his four year career, Phar Lap won 37 of the 51 races in which he was entered, including the 1930 Melbourne Cup.
Shergar was stolen from the Aga Khan's stud farm by an armed gang on 8 February 1983. Negotiations were conducted with the thieves, but the gang broke off all communication after four days when the syndicate did not accept as true the proof provided that the horse was still alive.
The answer of course was money. The IRA demanded £2 million for the horse's return. Success in racing is inextricably tied up with wealth so inevitably some of racing's richest names had bought into Shergar at the start of a stud career that valued him at £10 million.
Much to the outrage of many horse racing enthusiasts, reports indicate that in 2002, Ferdinand was sent to slaughter in Japan with no fanfare or notice to previous owners. He likely became either pet food or steaks for human consumption.
Sash presented to champion race horse Phar Lap after winning the AJC Derby at Randwick Racecourse in Sydney on the 5th October, 1929.
Phar Lap's greatest win was by 20 lengths in March 1930 at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne. During his short life Phar Lap won 37 races out of the 51 he was entered in.
After Phar Lap's death Woodcock accepted a retainer from an American millionaire and horse breeder, Willis Sharpe Kilmer; he was obliged, however, to return home because he had contravened United States of America immigration laws. In 1934 he obtained a training permit from the Victoria Racing Club.
5 April 1932
Phar Lap arrived in Australia as a two-year-old. His name meant 'lightning' in the Thai language, and he lived up to it with his ability to finish races with a surge of speed. He was no looker, with warts all over his head. Having conquered Australia, Phar Lap was sent to North America.
Although Secretariat still holds some track records to this day, and is arguably the faster horse, Phar Lap was a big weight carrier. They never competed against each other as their careers were decades apart, so it is unlikely the debate will ever be solved.
Sadly, gentle Shergar did not get the happy ending he deserved, and, shortly before 8pm on February 8, 1983, the five-year-old horse was kidnapped from his stable in Kildare, just as he was preparing for his second breeding season.
But on February 8, 1983, he was stolen from the Ballymany Stud, near The Curragh, by masked gunmen and was never seen again. The incident has been the inspiration for several books, documentaries, and a film. Shergar was a bay horse with a broad white blaze, bred by his owner, the Aga Khan, in County Kildare.
Back in February 1983, the last known sighting of the racehorse was at Ballymany stud in Kildare. It was believed that the thoroughbred horse was taken in the middle of the night by an armed gang and was held at ransom. The hunt for Shergar created huge media interest around the globe.
We all know the story about Secretariat; it's even been made into a movie. Along with Man o' War, he is considered to be the best horse of all time. Even ESPN counted Secretariat as on of the Top 50 Athletes of the 20th Century during their countdown in 1999.
Perhaps the most famous horse in racing history, the record-breaking Secretariat was foaled in 1970. Secretariat had a powerful stretch-running ability, giving him an edge over his competitor. It meant he could gain strength and speed as the race wore on.
Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert will miss the Kentucky Derby next year after Churchill Downs Incorporated (CDI), the organizer of the horse race and owner of the famed racetrack, extended his suspension through the end of 2024.
Phar Lap Wins the 1930 Melbourne Cup | National Film and Sound Archive of Australia.
Phar Lap was a horse of almost mythic proportions, literally and figuratively. A mammoth chestnut gelding, his huge strides ate up the ground and his competition with dominating ruthlessness. He came along at a time of deep economic depression, and his exploits elevated him to the status of an Australian cultural icon.