On October 4th, 1926 in Timaru, a very special horse was foaled that would affect the way Australians’ live their lives indefinitely. Little did Australia know that this one horse would become the face of a nation. He came to be known as ‘Pharlap’ or better well – known as Australia’s Wonder Horse. He came along at the time of deep economic depression, and his exploits elevated him at a status of an Australian cultural icon. Pharlap triumphed during this gloomy time, when a hero was most needed for the people of Australia.
Pharlap was beyond doubt the racing legend of his time, whose achievements captured the public’s imagination during the early years of the great depression, giving hope and security to the people of Australia. The certainty …show more content…
The Colt look anything but a champion, warts covered his face and there was awkwardness about his present that didn’t inspire the least amount of confidence. One of Pharlap’s many vets, Dr Stewart from the early 1930s, wrote “Pharlap’s head was just a plain head, nothing small or mean about it, it also lacked that beautiful moulding characteristic of the thoroughbred.” Not only did the general public and race enthusiasts think that Pharlap had no features that portrayed a champion but his own vet even thought this too. Harry Telford was infuriated with such comments because he truly believed that Pharlap’s breeding would come through so he wanted to name him, lightning, and the Thai word for lightning is ‘Farlap’ but Harry insisted it have 7 letters as the last three Melbourne cup winner at the time had 7 letters in their names so the ‘F’ was changed to ‘Ph’ and so the name Pharlap came. Racegoers thought that the name was an absolute joke as the horse ran anything but like lightning. Considering this, Pharlap was gelded so he could focus on running fast apposed to thinking about having offspring. …show more content…
Whether or not racing men and women were old enough to have witnessed the big red horse in full flight, that before the tragedy of his death he was widely regarded as the most able racehorse of his time and all others. The events of more than 80 seasons of racing have done little to dull his reputation. The joy of Pharlap last victory was turned to dismay when, at 4:30am as he had done every morning since meeting the big horse, Woodcock arrived at Pharlap’s stall. He found the champion with a fever and an irregular heart beat. He was thought to have colic and so he was treated. Pharlap was kept walking for a number of hours and by mid-day the horse had collapsed and died. The world mourned with Woodcock, and his death shocked the nation and with the mystery illness that many suspected to be the work of gangsters, a wave of Anti- American sentiment swept across Australia. Myth has it that the gangster killed him like they kill the champion Australian boxer, Les Darcy, because the Americans could not stand losing. Although the exact cause of his death is unknown, it is believed he ate grass, which someone had sprayed with arsenic. Causing Pharlap’s gut to swell which then lend to such symptoms as staggering and paralysis. Pharlap had songs, books and movie devoted to his incredible life. He also became part of the Australian lingo, with an oft-expressed compliment being that one has ‘ a heart as big as