By Robert Donnelly
The
complete career record
of
Phar
Lap
Ch G Night Raid – Entreaty
Foaled Timaru, New Zealand 4 Oct 1926
Owner:
D. J. Davis
H. R. Telford (lessee)
10 Feb 1928 – 10 Feb 1931
Racing Colours:
Red, black and white hooped sleeves, red cap
Owner:
H. R. Telford & D. J. Davis
11 Feb 1931 – 5 Apr 1932
Racing Colours:
Red, green hooped sleeves, black cap
2YO
13th 23 Feb 1929
RosehillRRC Nursery Hcp 1st Div 5½ fRider H. Munro 6.11
13 Ran – Barrier 12 – SP 25/1
1st Exact 8.6
2nd Cabaret Girl 7.6
3rd Pimento 7.12
2 ½ len x 2 len. Time 1:07 ¾
Form: 0
7th 2 Mar 1929 Hawkesbury
HRC Two Year Old Hcp 5f
Rider F. Douglas 7.3
16 Ran – Barrier 4 – SP 16/1
1st Sheila 7.10
2nd Pure Tea 7.13 3rd Win Gold 7.1
1 ¼ len x 2 len. Time 1:04
Form: 07
10th 16 Mar 1929 Rosehill
RRC Nursery Hcp 1st Div 6f
Rider H. Martin 6.7
16 Ran – Barrier 14 – SP 25/1
1st My Talisman 6.13
2nd Peacemaker 8.8 3rd Palmdale 7.2
Lng hd x lng nk. Time 1:15 ¼
Form: 070
9th 1 Apr 1929 Randwick
AJC Easter Stakes 7f
Rider J. Baker 7.6
11 Ran – Barrier 8 – SP 14/1
1st Carradale 8.2
2nd Sir Ribble 7.9 3rd Pentheus 8.2
½ hd x 3 len. Time 1:26 ½
Form: 0709
WON 27 Apr 1929 Rosehill
RRC Maiden Juvenile Hcp 6f
Rider J. Baker 8.0
21 Ran – Barrier 18 – SP 7/1
2nd Voleuse 7.6 3rd Pure Tea 8.12
½ len x 2 len. Time 1:15 ½ P/M £182
Form: 07091
2YO season: 5 Starts 1 win – 0 placings
Prizemoney £182
3YO
14th 3 Aug 1929 Warwick Farm
AJC Denham Court Hcap 6f
Rider J. Simpson 7.2
21 Ran – Barrier 1 – SP 25/1
1st Killarney 8.13
2nd Aussie 9.13 3rd Shankara 8.11
¾ len x ¾ len. Time 1:13
Form: 07091-0
4th 17 Aug 1929 Rosehill
RRC Three Year Old Hcp 7f
Rider J. Simpson 7.13
17 Ran – SP 8/1
1st (DH) Firbolg 8.7 1st (DH) King Crow 8.10
3rd Rostova 6.12
Dead-heat x 1 ½ len. Time 1:27 ¾
Form: 07091-04
16th 24 Aug 1929 Rosehill
RRC Three and Four Year Old Hcp 7f
Rider J. Brown 7.6
25 Ran – SP 16/1
1st Ticino 8.3
2nd Violin Solo 7.10 3rd Woodgera 7.11
½ len x 2 len. Time 1:27
Form: 07091-040
4th 31 Aug 1929 Warwick Farm
AJC Warwick Stakes WFA 1m
Rider J. Brown 7.6
10 Ran – SP 20/1
1st Limerick 9.0
2nd Mollison 8.11 3rd Winalot 9.3
¾ len x 1 ¾ len. Time 1:38 ¾
Form: 07091-0404
2nd 14 Sept 1929 Randwick
Tattersall’s Chelmsford Stakes WFA 9f
Rider J. Brown 7.6
10 Ran – SP 10/1
1st Mollison 9.4 3rd Winalot 9.11
½ len x 3 len. Time 1:52 P/M £200
Form: 07091-04042
WON 21 Sept 1929 Rosehill
RRC Rosehill Guineas SW 3YO 9f
Rider J. Munro 8.5
12 Ran – Barrier 7 – SP 2/1F
2nd Lorason 8.5 3rd Holdfast 8.5
3 len x 2 ½ len. Time 1:52 P/M £913
(equal race record)
Form: 07091-040421
WON 5 Oct 1929 Randwick
AJC Derby SW 3YO 1 ½ m
Rider J. Pike 8.10
11 Ran – Barrier 6 – SP 5/4F
2nd Carradale 8.10 3rd Honour 8.10
3 ½ len x 8 len. Time 2:31 ¼ P/M £7,135
(race record)
Form: 07091-0404211
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Phar Lap and Jim Pike racing away with the 1929 AJC Derby at Randwick
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WON 9 Oct 1929 Randwick
AJC Craven Plate WFA 1 ¼ m
Rider W. Duncan 7.8
4 Ran – Barrier 1 – SP 5/4 EF (Mollison)
2nd Mollison 8.11 3rd Amounis 9.1
4 len x 10 len. Time 2:11 ¼ P/M £2,205
Form: 07091-04042111
WON 2 Nov 1929 Flemington
VRC Derby SW 3YO 1 ½ m
Rider J. Pike 8.10
7 Ran – Barrier 5 – SP 2/9F
2nd Carradale 8.10 3rd Taisho 8.10
2 len x ½ len. Time 2:31 ¼ P/M £4,456
(race record)
Form: 07091-040421111
 |
Harry Telford accepts the VRC Derby Blue Ribbon from the Governor-General, Lord Stonehaven
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3rd 5 Nov 1929 Flemington
VRC Melbourne Cup 2m
Rider R. Lewis 7.6
14 Ran – Barrier 1 – SP EvensF
1st Nightmarch 9.2 2nd Paquito 8.5
3 len x 1 len. Time 3:26 ½ P/M £1,000
Form: 07091-0404211113
3rd 15 Feb 1930 Caulfield
VATC St George Stakes WFA 9f
Rider R. Lewis 8.10
6 Ran – Barrier 6 – SP 7/4
1st Amounis 9.9 2nd Parsee 9.2
½ len x nk. Time 1:53 ¾ P/M £75
Form: 07091-04042111133
WON 1 Mar 1930 Flemington
VRC St Leger Stakes SW 3YO 1 ¾ m
Rider J. Pike 8.10
5 Ran – Barrier 3 – SP 1/2F
2nd Sir Ribble 8.10 3rd Lineage 8.7
5 len x 2 len. Time 3:01 ¼ P/M £1,691
(equal race record)
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Phar Lap and Jim Pike after winning the VRC St Leger at Flemington |
WON 6 Mar 1930 Flemington
VRC Governor’s Plate WFA 1 ½ m
Rider W. Elliot 7.13
4 Ran – Barrier 1 – SP 4/9F
2nd Lineage 7.13 3rd High Syce 9.3
4 len x 4 len. Time 2:30 ¼ P/M £749
Form: 07091-0404211113311
WON 8 Mar 1930 Flemington
VRC King’s Plate WFA 2m
Rider W. Elliot 7.11
5 Ran – Barrier 4 – SP 1/10F
2nd Second Wind 8.11 3rd Lineage 7.11
20 len x 3 len. Time 3:25 P/M £1,112
Form: 07091-04042111133111
WON 12 Apr 1930 Warwick Farm
AJC Chipping Norton Stakes WFA 1 ¼ m
Rider J. Pike 8.10
5 Ran – SP 5/4F
2nd Amounis 9.6 3rd NightMarch 9.7
2 ½ len x nk. Time 2:06 P/M £747
Form: 07091-040421111331111
WON 19 Apr 1930 Randwick
AJC St Leger SW 3YO 1 ¾ m
Rider J. Pike 8.10
3 Ran – SP 1/20F
2nd Sir Ribble 8.10 3rd Peacemaker 8.10
3 ½ len x 1 ½ len. Time 3:07 P/M £2,478
Form: 07091-0404211113311111
WON 23 Apr 1930 Randwick
AJC Cumberland Stakes WFA 1 ¾ m
Rider W. Elliot 8.1
3 Ran – SP No straight-out betting
2nd Donald 9.0 3rd Kidaides 9.0
2 len x 20 len. Time 2:58 ¾ P/M £1,457
(course record)
Form: 07091-04042111133111111
WON 26 Apr 1930 Randwick
AJC Plate WFA 2 ¼ m
Rider W. Elliot 7.13
3 Ran – SP 2/5F
2nd Nightmarch 9.0 3rd Donald 9.1
10 len x ¾ len. Time 3:49 ½ P/M £1,451
(Australasian record)
Form: 07091-040421111331111111
WON 10 May 1930 Morphettville
SAJC Elder Stakes 9f
Rider W. Elliot 8.4
2 Ran – SP No Betting
2nd Fruition 8.13
5 len. Time 1:52 P/M £325
Form: 07091-0404211113311111111
WON 17 May 1930 Morphettville
SAJC King’s Cup 1 ½ m
Rider J. Pike 9.5
6 Ran – Barrier 1 – SP No Betting
2nd (DH) Nadean 8.2 2nd (DH) Kirrkie 7.10
3 ½ len x dead-heat. Time 2:34 P/M £800
Form: 07091-04042111133111111111
3YO season: 20 Starts 13 wins – 1 second 2 thirds 4 unplaced
4YO
2nd 30 Aug 1930 Warwick Farm
AJC Warwick Stakes WFA 1m
Rider J. Pike 8.11
10 Ran – Barrier 2 – SP 10/9F
1st Amounis 9.0 3rd Nightmarch 9.3
Sht hd x 3 len. Time 1:38 P/M £200
(equal course record)
Form: 07091-04042111133111111111-2
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Tommy Woodcock walks beside a dejected Jim Pike as he brings Phar Lap back to scale following his narrow defeat by Amounis in the Warwick Stakes at Warwick Farm |
WON 13 Sept 1930 Randwick
Tattersall’s Chelmsford Stakes WFA 9f
Rider J. Pike 9.4 (including 7lb penalty)
7 Ran – Barrier 7 – SP 1/5F
2nd Nightmarch 9.11 3rd Weotara 7.6
2 ½ len x sht nk. Time 1:51 ½ P/M £1,033
Form: 07091-04042111133111111111-21
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Jim Pike brings Phar Lap back to scale after winning the Tattersalls Chelmsford Stakes
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WON 20 Sept 1930 Rosehill
RRC Hill Stakes WFA 1m
Rider J. Pike 9.4 (including 7lb penalty)
7 Ran – SP 2/7F
2nd Nightmarch 9.3 3rd High Disdain 9.0
1 len x 1 ½ len. Time 1:40 P/M £597
Form: 07091-04042111133111111111-211
WON 4 Oct 1930 Randwick
AJC Spring Stakes WFA 1 ½ m
Rider J. Pike 8.11
5 Ran – Barrier 3 – SP 1/10F
2nd Nightmarch 9.5 3rd Concentrate 9.2
½ len x 8 len. Time 2:33 ¼ P/M £1,467
Form: 07091-04042111133111111111-2111
WON 8 Oct 1930 Randwick
AJC Craven Plate WFA 10f
Rider J. Pike 8.11
4 Ran – Barrier 2 – SP 1/6F
2nd Nightmarch 9.4 3rd Donald 9.2
6 len x 10 len. Time 2:03 P/M £1,825
(Australasian record)
Form: 07091-04042111133111111111-21111
 |
Jim Pike has Phar Lap under a strong hold as he races away for an easy win in the Craven Plate
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WON 11 Oct 1930 Randwick
AJC Randwick Plate WFA 2m
Rider J. Pike 8.11
3 Ran – SP No betting
2nd Donald 9.4 3rd Concentrate 9.3
2 len x 3 len. Time 3:36 ¼ P/M £1465
Form: 07091-04042111133111111111-211111
WON 25 Oct 1930 Moonee Valley
MVRC W S Cox Plate WFA 9 ½ f
Rider J. Pike 8.11
6 Ran – Barrier 3 – SP 1/7F
2nd Tregilla 7.11 3rd Mollison 9.1
4 len x 1 len. Time 1:59 ¼ P/M £850
Form: 07091-04042111133111111111-2111111
WON 1 Nov 1930 Flemington
VRC Melbourne Stakes WFA 10f
Rider J. Pike 8.11
5 Ran – Barrier 5 – SP 1/5F
2nd Tregilla 7.12 3rd Amounis 9.0
3 len x 4 len. Time 2:04 ½ P/M £1000
Form: 07091-04042111133111111111-21111111
 |
Phar Lap and Jim Pike racing away for an easy win in the 1930 Melbourne Stakes at Flemington
|
WON 4 Nov 1930 Flemington
VRC Melbourne Cup 2m
Rider J. Pike 9.12
15 Ran – Barrier 11 – SP 8/11F
2nd Second Wind 8.12 3rd Shadow King 8.4
3 len x ¾ len. Time 3:27 ¾ P/M £9,429
Form: 07091-04042111133111111111-211111111
 |
Jim Pike and Phar Lap on the track before the running of the 1930 Melbourne Cup
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WON 6 Nov 1930 Flemington
VRC Linlithgow Stakes WFA 1m
Rider J. Pike 8.12
5 Ran – Barrier 2 – SP 1/7F
2nd Mollison 8.13 3rd Mystic Peak 9.2
4 len x nk. Time 1:37 P/M £1,000
Form: 07091-04042111133111111111-2111111111
WON 8 Nov 1930 Flemington
VRC C B Fisher Plate WFA 1 ½ m
Rider J. Pike 8.12
3 Ran – Barrier 3 – SP No Betting
2nd Second Wind 9.1 3rd Lineage 8.9
3 ½ len x 4 len. Time 2:48 ¼ P/M £1000
Form: 07091-04042111133111111111-21111111111
WON 14 Feb 1931 Caulfield
VATC St. George Stakes WFA 9f
Rider J. Pike 9.7 (including 10lb penalty)
4 Ran – Barrier 4 – SP 1/14F
2nd Induna 8.3 3rd Glare 8.13
2 ½ len x 2 ½ len. Time 1:54 ¾ P/M £600
Form: 07091-04042111133111111111-211111111111
In February 1931, Harry Telford’s 3 year lease on Phar Lap
expired and the champion was then raced in partnership by Harry
Telford and Phar Lap’s original owner, Dave Davis.
The St George Stakes was Phar Lap’s first outing in his new owners’
colours – Red, green and red hooped sleeves, black cap
WON 21 Feb 1931 Caulfield
VATC Futurity Stakes WFA 7f
Rider J. Pike 10.3 (including 20lb penalty)
10 Ran – Barrier 2 – SP 1/2F
2nd Mystic Peak 10.2 3rd Taurus 8.12
Nk x 1 len. Time 1:27 ¼ P/M £2,600
Form: 07091-04042111133111111111-2111111111111
WON 28 Feb 1931 Flemington
VRC Essendon Stakes WFA 10f
Rider J. Pike 9.7 (including 7lb penalty)
4 Ran – Barrier 1 – SP 1/25F
2nd Lampra 8.0 3rd Mira Donna 7.7
3 len x 4 len. Time 2:05 ½ P/M £700
Form: 07091-04042111133111111111-21111111111111
Jim Pike takes hold of Phar Lap as they head to the start of the Essenden Stakes at Flemington
WON 4 Mar 1931 Flemington
VRC The King’s Plate WFA 1 ½ m
Rider J. Pike 9.7 (including 7lb penalty)
5 Ran – Barrier 1 – SP No Betting
2nd Glare 8.3 3rd Lampra 8.0
1 ¼ len x 1 ½ len. Time 2:37 ¼ P/M £700
Form: 07091-04042111133111111111-211111111111111
2nd 7 Mar 1931 Flemington
VRC C. M. Lloyd Stakes WFA 1m
Rider J. Pike 9.7 (including 7lb penalty)
4 Ran – Barrier 2 – SP 1/4F
1st Waterline 8.0 3rd Temoin 8.0
Nk x 3 len. Time 1:38. P/M £200
Form: 07091-04042111133111111111-2111111111111112
4YO season: 16 Starts 14 wins – 2 seconds Prizemoney £24,666
5YO
WON 25 Aug 1931 Williamstown
WRC Underwood Stakes WFA 1m
Rider W. Elliot 9.0
6 Ran – Barrier 2 – SP 2/1F
2nd Rondalina 7.6 3rd Wise Force 9.3
1 ¾ len x nk. Time 1:42 ½ P/M £350
Form: 07091-04042111133111111111-2111111111111112-1
WON Sept 5 1931 Caulfield
VATC Memsie Stakes WFA 9f
Rider J. Pike 9.8 (including 7lb extra)
6 Ran – Barrier 4 – SP 1/6F
2nd Rondalina 6.11 3rd Waterline 9.8
3 ½ len x hd. Time 1:52 ¾ P/M £500
Form: 07091-04042111133111111111-2111111111111112-11
 |
Phar Lap seems eager to get on with it as he heads to the start for the 1931 Memsie Stakes |
WON 19 Sept 1931 Rosehill
RRC Hill Stakes WFA 1m
Rider J. Pike 9.0
4 Ran – SP No straight-out betting
2nd Chide 9.0 3rd Waugoola 9.0
1 ½ len x 3 len. Time 1:39 ½ P/M £444
Form: 07091-04042111133111111111-2111111111111112-111
WON 3 Oct 1931 Randwick
AJC Spring Stakes WFA 1 ½ m
Rider J. Pike 9.2
7 Ran – SP No straight-out betting
2nd Chide 9.3 3rd The Dimmer 9.3
1 ¼ len x 3 len. Time 2:33 ¾ P/M £779
Form: 07091-04042111133111111111-2111111111111112-1111
WON 7 OCT 1931 Randwick
AJC Craven Plate WFA 10f
Rider J. Pike 9.1
4 Ran – SP No straight-out betting
2nd Pentheus 9.4 3rd Chide 9.1
4 len x 3 ½ len. Time 2:02 ½ P/M £940
(Australasian record)
Form: 07091-04042111133111111111-2111111111111112-11111
WON 10 Oct 1931 Randwick
AJC Randwick Plate WFA 2m
Rider J. Pike 9.3
2 Ran – SP No betting
2nd Chide 9.4
4 len. Time 3:31 P/M £740
Form: 07091-04042111133111111111-2111111111111112-111111
 |
Pike and Phar Lap waiting to pounce on Billy Cook and Chide in the AJC Randwick Plate
|
WON 24 Oct 1931 Moonee Valley
MVRC W S Cox Plate WFA 9 ½ f
Rider J. Pike 9.4
7 Ran – Barrier 7 – SP 1/14F
2nd Chatham 7.11 3rd Johnnie Jason 7.11
2 ½ len x 2 len. Time 2:01 ½ P/M £500
Form: 07091-04042111133111111111-2111111111111112-1111111
WON 31 Oct 1931 Flemington
VRC Melbourne Stakes WFA 10f
Rider J. Pike 9.1
4 Ran – Barrier 1 – No straight-out betting
2nd Concentrate 9.1 3rd Veilmond 9.0
½ len x 1 ¼ len. Time 2:06 ½ P/M £525
Form: 07091-04042111133111111111-2111111111111112-11111111
8th 3 Nov 1931 Flemington
VRC Melbourne Cup 2m
Rider J. Pike 10.10
14 Ran – Barrier 14 – SP 3/1F
1st White Nose 6.12 2nd Shadow King 8.7
3rd Concentrate 8.10
2 len x ½ nk. Time 3:26
Form: 07091-04042111133111111111-2111111111111112-111111118
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Tommy Woodcock leads Phar Lap with Jim Pike aboard out onto the track for the running of the 1931 Melbourne Cup |
WON 20 March 1932 Agua Caliente, Mexico
ACJC Agua Caliente Handicap 10f
Rider W. Elliot 9.3
11 Ran – Barrier 9 – SP 6/5F
2nd Reveille Boy 8.6 3rd Scimitar 7.2
2 len x 2 ½ len. Time 2:02 4/5 P/M $US 50,050 (£AUS 13,700)
(course record)
Form: 07091-04042111133111111111-2111111111111112-111111118-1
 |
He came, he saw, he conquered. Phar Lap, Tommy Woodcock and Billy Elliot after the big race
|
5YO season: 10 Starts 9 wins – 1 unplaced
Prizemoney £4,478 + $US50,050
Career: 51 Starts 37 wins – 3 seconds – 2 thirds
Prizemoney £56,120 + $US50,050
Total in Australian pounds £66,738
Phar Lap After Agua Caliente, Phar Lap and his party returned to Perry’s ranch at Menlo Park in Atherton, California. In the meantime, owner, Dave Davis was busy fielding offers from race clubs all over the United States, all eager to secure an appearance from the newly crowned ‘world-champion’.
Tragically, just sixteen days after his triumph at Agua Caliente, the great horse was dead.
On the morning of April 5th 1932, Phar Lap, who’d been in excruciating pain for some hours beforehand, died in the arms of his trainer and best friend, Tommy Woodcock.
An autopsy conducted on Phar Lap’s stomach and intestines put the cause of death down to a case of acute colic. A small amount of arsenic was also noted, though the quantity was minimal and not enough to have had any bearing on his death. It was reported later that the trees at Menlo Park had been sprayed with an arsenic treatment and that some residue may have contaminated the nearby paddocks. This may explain the small amounts that were noted in the autopsy.
Harry Telford Battling
trainer, Harry Telford got lucky beyond belief in January 1928 when he picked
out Lot 41 from the annual New Zealand thoroughbred Yearling Sales at Trentham NZ
and secured it for just 160 guineas. Through Phar Lap, Telford found fame and
fortune and bought the former training facilities “Braeside’ that was
previously owned by Dr. Arthur Syme who raced under the nom de course of Mr “S
A Rawdon”. When Braeside failed to produce the constant stream of winners that
Telford had predicted, Harry eventually found himself back where he started, as
a battling trainer.
Harry Telford retired from training in 1957 and died at
Bacchus Marsh Hospital 3 years later on September 3 1960 aged 82.
Dave Davis
American born Davis never returned to Australia after Phar Lap’s death in
Atherton California. He did however maintain his interest in horse racing,
particularly Australasian bred horses. Davis established his own breeding
establishment, Oakdell Stud in the Clara Valley region of California where he
imported Australasian gallopers to stand at stud. Back in Australia, big
bookie, Jack Phillips was Davis’ business partner in the venture. One of their
more prominent purchases was the 1946 Melbourne Cup winner Russia, whom Davis
purchased in 1949.
Davis died in San Francisco on December 13 1959
Jim Pike Pike retired
from riding in April 1936 and shortly after took out a trainers’ license.
Despite having a large team of horses in the early years, Pike never really
made a success of training and by the early 1940s his career was all but over.
Pike floated the idea of a come-back to race riding, but at 48 years of age, he
knew his body would not cope with the constant wasting that was so much a part
of his previous riding days. In later life, Pike fell on hard times and the man
who once bet in thousands of pounds and owned properties all over Melbourne, died
virtually penniless in October 1969 aged 77.
Tommy Woodcock After
Phar Lap’s death, Tommy stayed on in America where he trained a number of
horses in Chicago for Millionaire owner Willis Sharp Kilmer. Tommy had a few
early successes for Kilmer but had to leave America when Immigration officials
ordered him out for working without a work visa. Once back home in Australia,
Tommy took out a training license in Victoria where he successfully trained
both horses and riders for almost 50 years. In 1977, Woodcock hit the headlines
once again when he trained the grand stayer, Reckless to win the Sydney,
Adelaide and Brisbane Cups in succession before going on to finish second to
Gold And Black in the ’77 Melbourne Cup.Tommy Woodcock retired from training in 1983 but unfortunately, due to ill health, Tommy’s retirement was short lived.
Tommy Woodcock died at Yarrawonga on 27 April 1985 aged
79.
William ‘Billy’ Elliot
After Phar Lap’s death, Elliot signed-on as a stable rider for Millionaire
owner Willis Sharp Kilmer, and stayed on in America along with Tommy Woodcock, who
had secured work training for Kilmer. Elliot’s and Woodcock’s careers in
America only lasted a few months as they had no working visas and were sent
home by the Immigration Dept. Back home
in Australia, Elliot continued on as one of Victoria’s leading riders, twice
being the state’s premier rider. Later in his career, a couple of track
accidents resulted in leg injuries and during his recuperation from the second
accident, Elliot took ill. Billy developed pneumonia while holidaying with his
wife and two sons at Nicholson, in the Gippsland district. His condition
deteriorated rapidly and by the time he was admitted to Bairnsdale Hospital, he
had slipped into a coma.
Billy Elliot died on 20 September 1941, he was 33 years
old.
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The 1928 Trentham yearling sales catalogue |
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Phar Lap was LOT 41 in the 1928 Trentham sales catalogue |
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Phar Lap's certificate of registration of a racehorse |
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This is one of several sets of colours that were carried by Telford trained horses, including Phar Lap, during the late 1920s & early 1930s
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Phar Lap's mounted hide has been on display at Melbourne Museum for more than 90 years |
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Statue of Phar Lap at Flemington Racecourse |
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Jim Pike has his hands full as he takes the headstrong 3YO Phar Lap out for the VRC Derby
 | Jim Pike and Phar Lap on the track at Flemington before the VRC Derby |
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Jim Pike and Phar Lap after their record-breaking win in the 1929 VRC Derby at Flemington  |
Jim Pike brings Phar Lap back to scale after their win in the VRC Derby |
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Phar Lap and Bobby Lewis at Caulfield for the 1930 St George Stakes. Phar Lap finished third this day behind Amounis and Parsee
|
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Phar Lap and Jim Pike return to scale after their record-breaking win in the 1929 AJC Derby at Randwick
|
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Phar Lap and Tommy Woodcock at Sol Green's property 'Underbank' at Bacchus March
 | Phar Lap & Tommy Woodcock with field manager (name unknown) at Underbank Stud |
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What a wonderful tribute to Bobby and all that were involved in this amazing story. Some lovely stills I have not seen before, and believe me I have hundreds! He has pride of place on my wall and every chance I get, I go to the museum and visit him, as I have since about 4 years of age and I'm 65 now! Racehorses will come and go, but what he did and how often under weight will be the benchmark for a true champion of the track and the people. Well done.
ReplyDeleteYes, Phar Lap was unique and will never be forgotten. A wonderful summary of his career and information on his human associates. Thank you!
DeleteThank you for your kind comments. I'm glad you found my blog both interesting and enjoyable. I've loved everything about Phar Lap for nearly all my life and have enjoyed putting this blog together. The final result has made all the hours of research all worthwhile.
DeleteA wonderful tribute for Phar Lap. Loved by the Nation. Congratulations on a wonderful job.
ReplyDeleteThank you, glad you enjoyed reading my blog.
DeleteBest summation of a horse's career I have ever seen, and the contingent of humans around him who helped him to tick, and boy, did he tick. Just looking at the times, the distances, the margins but critically the weights carried, there really is no comparison to any other animal, except maybe Tulloch, but the weights carried are the difference. Lee 'the Diva" won three and was a wonderful racemare, but Phar Lap was clearly one out of the box, the three of them are all legends, and deservedly so, but just seeing that formline and times and weights, there is only one PHAR LAP.
ReplyDelete