Phar Lap Complete Career Record

 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

13^th 23 Feb 1929 Rosehill
RRC Nursery Hcp 1st Div 5½ f
Rider H. Munro 6.11
13 Ran – Barrier 12 – SP 25/1
1^st Exact 8.6
2^nd Cabaret Girl 7.6    3^rd Pimento 7.12
2 ½ len x 2 len. Time 1:07 ¾

Form: 0
 

7^th 2 Mar 1929 Hawkesbury

HRC Two Year Old Hcp 5f

Rider F. Douglas 7.3

16 Ran – Barrier 4 – SP 16/1

1^st Sheila 7.10

2^nd Pure Tea 7.13    3^rd Win Gold 7.1

1 ¼ len x 2 len. Time 1:04

Form: 07

10^th 16 Mar 1929 Rosehill

RRC Nursery Hcp 1st Div 6f

Rider H. Martin 6.7

16 Ran – Barrier 14 – SP 25/1

1^st My Talisman 6.13

2^nd Peacemaker 8.8    3^rd Palmdale 7.2

Lng hd x lng nk. Time 1:15 ¼ 

Form: 070

9^th 1 Apr 1929 Randwick

AJC Easter Stakes 7f

Rider J. Baker 7.6

11 Ran – Barrier 8 – SP 14/1

1^st Carradale 8.2

2^nd Sir Ribble 7.9    3^rd 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

2^nd Voleuse 7.6    3^rd 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

14^th 3 Aug 1929 Warwick Farm

AJC Denham Court Hcap 6f

Rider J. Simpson 7.2

21 Ran – Barrier 1 – SP 25/1

1^st Killarney 8.13

2^nd Aussie 9.13    3^rd Shankara 8.11

¾ len x ¾ len. Time 1:13

Form: 07091-0

4^th 17 Aug 1929 Rosehill

RRC Three Year Old Hcp 7f

Rider J. Simpson 7.13

17 Ran – SP 8/1

1^st (DH) Firbolg 8.7  1^st (DH) King Crow 8.10 

3^rd Rostova 6.12

Dead-heat x 1 ½ len. Time 1:27 ¾

Form: 07091-04 

16^th 24 Aug 1929 Rosehill

RRC Three and Four Year Old Hcp 7f

Rider J. Brown 7.6

25 Ran – SP 16/1

1^st Ticino 8.3

2^nd Violin Solo 7.10    3^rd Woodgera 7.11

½ len x 2 len. Time 1:27

Form: 07091-040

4^th 31 Aug 1929 Warwick Farm

AJC Warwick Stakes WFA 1m

Rider J. Brown 7.6

10 Ran – SP 20/1

1^st Limerick 9.0

2^nd Mollison 8.11    3^rd Winalot 9.3

¾ len x 1 ¾ len. Time 1:38 ¾

Form: 07091-0404 

2^nd 14 Sept 1929 Randwick

Tattersall’s Chelmsford Stakes WFA 9f

Rider J. Brown 7.6

10 Ran – SP 10/1

1^st Mollison 9.4    3^rd 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

2^nd Lorason 8.5    3^rd 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

2^nd Carradale 8.10    3^rd Honour 8.10

3 ½ len x 8 len. Time 2:31 ¼     P/M £7,135

(race record)

Form: 07091-0404211

Phar Lap and Jim Pike racing away with the 1929 AJC Derby at Randwick

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)

2^nd Mollison 8.11    3^rd 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

2^nd Carradale 8.10    3^rd 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

3^rd 5 Nov 1929 Flemington

VRC Melbourne Cup 2m

Rider R. Lewis 7.6

14 Ran – Barrier 1 – SP EvensF

1^st Nightmarch 9.2    2^nd Paquito 8.5

3 len x 1 len. Time 3:26 ½    P/M £1,000

Form: 07091-0404211113

3^rd 15 Feb 1930 Caulfield

VATC St George Stakes WFA 9f

Rider R. Lewis 8.10

6 Ran – Barrier 6 – SP 7/4

1^st Amounis 9.9    2^nd 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

2^nd Sir Ribble 8.10    3^rd Lineage 8.7

5 len x 2 len. Time 3:01 ¼     P/M £1,691

(equal race record)

Form: 07091-040421111331

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

2^nd Lineage 7.13   3^rd 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

2^nd Second Wind 8.11    3^rd 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

2^nd Amounis 9.6    3^rd 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

2^nd Sir Ribble 8.10    3^rd 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

2^nd Donald 9.0    3^rd 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

2^nd Nightmarch 9.0    3^rd 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

2^nd 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

2^nd (DH) Nadean 8.2    2^nd (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

                                                                       Prizemoney £26,794

                                                                   4YO                  

2^nd 30 Aug 1930 Warwick Farm

AJC Warwick Stakes WFA 1m

Rider J. Pike 8.11

10 Ran – Barrier 2 – SP 10/9F

1^st Amounis 9.0    3^rd Nightmarch 9.3

Sht hd x 3 len. Time 1:38    P/M £200

(equal course record)

Form: 07091-04042111133111111111-2

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

2^nd Nightmarch 9.11    3^rd Weotara 7.6

2 ½ len x sht nk. Time 1:51 ½    P/M £1,033

Form: 07091-04042111133111111111-21

Jim Pike brings Phar Lap back to scale after winning the Tattersalls Chelmsford Stakes

WON 20 Sept 1930 Rosehill

RRC Hill Stakes WFA 1m

Rider J. Pike 9.4 (including 7lb penalty)

7 Ran – SP 2/7F

2^nd Nightmarch 9.3    3^rd 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

2^nd Nightmarch 9.5    3^rd 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 10f

Rider J. Pike 8.11

4 Ran – Barrier 2 – SP 1/6F

2^nd Nightmarch 9.4    3^rd 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 

WON 11 Oct 1930 Randwick

AJC Randwick Plate WFA 2m

Rider J. Pike 8.11

3 Ran – SP No betting

2^nd Donald 9.4    3^rd 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

2^nd Tregilla 7.11    3^rd 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

2^nd Tregilla 7.12    3^rd 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

2^nd Second Wind 8.12    3^rd 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

WON 6 Nov 1930 Flemington

VRC Linlithgow Stakes WFA 1m

Rider J. Pike 8.12

5 Ran – Barrier 2 – SP 1/7F

2^nd Mollison 8.13    3^rd 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

2^nd Second Wind 9.1    3^rd 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

2^nd Induna 8.3    3^rd 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

2^nd Mystic Peak 10.2    3^rd 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

2^nd Lampra 8.0    3^rd 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

2^nd Glare 8.3    3^rd Lampra 8.0

1 ¼ len x 1 ½ len. Time 2:37 ¼     P/M £700

Form: 07091-04042111133111111111-211111111111111

2^nd 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

1^st Waterline 8.0    3^rd 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

2^nd Rondalina 7.6    3^rd 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

2^nd Rondalina 6.11    3^rd 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

2^nd Chide 9.0    3^rd 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

2^nd Chide 9.3    3^rd 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

2^nd Pentheus 9.4    3^rd 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

2^nd 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

2^nd Chatham 7.11    3^rd 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

2^nd Concentrate 9.1     3^rd Veilmond 9.0

½ len x 1 ¼ len. Time 2:06 ½     P/M £525

Form: 07091-04042111133111111111-2111111111111112-11111111

8^th 3 Nov 1931 Flemington

VRC Melbourne Cup 2m

Rider J. Pike 10.10

14 Ran – Barrier 14 – SP 3/1F

1^st White Nose 6.12    2^nd Shadow King 8.7

3^rd Concentrate 8.10

2 len x ½ nk. Time 3:26

Form: 07091-04042111133111111111-2111111111111112-111111118

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

2^nd Reveille Boy 8.6    3^rd 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 in 1960.

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.

Phar Lap was LOT 41 in the 1928 Trentham sales catalogue

Phar Lap's certificate of registration of a racehorse

This is one of several sets of colours that were carried by Telford  trained
horses, including Phar Lap, during the late 1920s & early 1930s

                     Gallery 

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

                       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

            

Phar Lap and Jim Pike return to scale after their record-breaking win in the 
1929 AJC Derby at Randwick

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

Best Mates - Tommy Woodcock and "Bobby"

Phar Lap and Tommy Woodcock at Sol Green's property 'Underbank' at Bacchus March

Phar Lap and Billy Elliot take to the track at Flemington for
the running of the 1930 Governor's Plate

Phar Lap and Jim Pike on the track at Randwick on Craven Plate day 1930

Phar Lap with apprentice Bob Parker aboard about to do trackwork at Moonee Valley two days
before the 1930 W. S. Cox Plate

Tommy Woodcock walks Phar Lap to trackwork along the back streets of Caulfield

Jim Pike has a strong hold on Phar Lap as they head for the barriers for the 1930 Melbourne Cup

Gerald "Cappy" Telford shows the crowd the Cup that Dad and Phar Lap just won

Tommy Woodcock leads Phar Lap and Jim Pike out for an exhibition gallop at Randwick
on Saturday September 12 1931
 

Phar Lap thrills the Randwick crowd during an exhibition gallop on Saturday September 12 1931

Phar Lap, leaving Australia as he is loaded onto the Steamer "Ulimaroa" at Sydney wharf. He and
trainer Tommy Woodcock would spend a month in New Zealand en-route to the United States

Tommy Woodcock brings Phar Lap out to meet a group of New Zealand
Dignitaries at Hugh Telford's stables at Trentham racecourse

A week before the big race in Mexico and Phar Lap, with colours up, takes 
to the track with race-jockey Billy Elliot for a promotional appearance 
 

Mission Accomplished

The Aussie trio posing for photos after winning the Agua Caliente Handicap in Mexico

Tommy Woodcock and Phar Lap at Suzanne Perry's ranch at Atherton, California

The Australian contingent that travelled to Mexico with Phar Lap and Tommy Woodcock,
 L to R, race-jockey Billy Elliot, vet Bill Nielson & trackwork rider Jack Martin.

Cover and race page of the official Agua Caliente race book

Heroes to a nation - Phar Lap and Jim Pike

The invincible Phar Lap and Jim Pike

Phar Lap and Jim Pike on Melbourne Cup day 1930 - Painting by I. Akkerman