The Death of Phar Lap

After returning to a ranch near San Francisco to recover from an injured hoof, on 5 April 1932 the five-year-old died in the arms of his strapper, Tommy Woodcock.

Even after two autopsies have been performed on the horse, to this day nobody knows for sure what caused Phar Lap's death. Some believe his death was an innocent tragedy, that the pasture which he was in caused intestinal problems, or that the trees at the ranch had been foolishly sprayed with an insecticide which was poisonous to horses. There is also the possibility that his travelling between different climates and his training may have allowed for a bacterial disease to have been contracted. A number of people believe that malicious conspirators are responsible for intentionally poisoning him with arsenic.

When the news reached Australia, the response of Australians was a unanimous one of great loss. It made the headline of every newspaper and radio broadcast in the country.
Phar Lap was more than just a horse. He was a symbol of inspiration to the people who had almost lost all hope during the hard years of the Depression. He was personified as having the characteristics which Australians looked favourably upon and could identify with. He too was an 'underdog,' coming from placing dead last in the very first race that he competed in, to winning 37 of 51 starts. He also was seen to be playful and have the 'larrikin' attitude that Australians were known for. Most of all, he was brave and determined, able to overcome the challenges which were placed in front of him.
Phar Lap moved so many people that after his death, a number of them even sent letters of condolence to Telford. Several films, a book and also a song were written about Phar Lap to ensure that his memory lived on. He was also inducted into the Australia Racing Hall of Fame as one of its five inaugural members. His skeleton was returned to his birth-land of New Zealand, while his hide was stuffed and is currently displayed in Melbourne Museum. His heart which was said to weigh a heavy 6.2 kilograms, compared to the average size of around 3.2 kilograms, is allegedly displayed in the National Museum of Australia in Canberra. There is, however, controversy surrounding whether it is indeed his actual heart or simply that of a completely different horse, owing to historical and anatomical discrepancies.