Most of his offspring were successful winners of distance races in Queensland and South Australia, and he had sired Abundance (1899), winner of both the AJC and VRC Derbies and St. Leger Stakes, CJC New Zealand Oaks winner Mercy, and other good horses. Phar Lap was foaled at Timaru on October 4, 1926.

Death. Early on 5 April 1932, the horse’s strapper for the North American visit, Tommy Woodcock, found him in severe pain and with a high temperature. In 2000, equine specialists studying the two necropsies concluded that Phar Lap probably died of duodenitis-proximal jejunitis, an acute bacterial gastroenteritis.

Sadly, Phar Lap died on April 5, 1932 at only five years old. Woodcock found the horse in severe pain and running a high temperature. Within a few hours, Phar Lap died in Woodcock’s arms. An autopsy was performed and it was revealed that the gelding’s stomach and intestines were inflamed.

Scientists say they have confirmed the theory that Australian racehorse legend Phar Lap was killed by arsenic poisoning. Dr Kempson and Mr Henry say they now have the best evidence to date that backs earlier claims arsenic is to blame. Dr Kempson said arsenic poisoning was initially ruled out after Phar Lap’s autopsy.

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.

Tommy Woodcock
Phar Lap legend in life and death. He has unearthed a long-forgotten interview with Phar Lap’s trusted strapper, Tommy Woodcock, which was given four years after the champion horse died and in which he admits secretly getting rid of tonic foisted by ”Yankee salesmen” on to trainer and part-owner Harry Telford.

Career. Phar Lap was shipped to America, and Woodcock was employed as his trainer while he was in America. Shortly afterwards, on 5 April 1932, Phar Lap suddenly died in Menlo Park, California. Always devoted to the horse, Woodcock was with Phar Lap in his final moments.

Phar Lap’s remains were dispersed across the globe. His mounted hide went to the Museum of Victoria in Melbourne, the skeleton to the National Museum of New Zealand in Wellington and the heart to the Australian Institute of Anatomy.

The stinging reality of Melbourne’s The Argus newspaper headline on 7 April struck the nation, and the racehorse’s death was the leading news story in Australia for several days.

On April 5, 1932, Phar Lap’s groom for the North American trip, Tommy Woodcock, found Phar Lap in severe abdominal pain with a high temperature. A veterinarian diagnosed colic and had Woodcock walk the gelding to prevent the intestines from getting twisted.

One of Phar Lap’s biggest accomplishments was his performance during the 1930 Melbourne Cup, carrying a 62kg handicap for his age group. He was the only horse in Australian history to have been favourite for the Melbourne Cup three years in a row.

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.