Why was Phar Lap an australian icon?
Phar Lap (1926–1932) was a champion Thoroughbred racehorse whose achievements captured the public’s imagination during the early years of the Great Depression. Foaled in New Zealand he was trained and raced in Australia. Phar Lap dominated Australian racing during a distinguished career, winning a Melbourne Cup, two Cox Plates and 19 other weight for age races. He then won the Agua Caliente Handicap in Tijuana, Mexico in track-record time in his final race. After a sudden and mysterious illness, Phar Lap died in 1932. At the time, he was the third highest stakes-winner in the world.
Phar Lap was an amazing horse who came from nothing and became a hero in a time (The Great Depression) when hope was all but dead. He inspired everyday folk to keep going no matter how tough things got. The average man in the street could relate to the little battler of a horse who always tried so hard. Being an Aussie I’m a little biased perhaps but no one can argue with his race record and that stands to this day.
Because he was Australians greatest racehorse He was known by making the poor a bit richer Poor kids often orphans would put a little bit of money on him 10 or 20 cents depending on how much they had and they would win a bit of money back He was also great because no matter what happened he would win or come a place he raced with a sore hoof on a dirt track while in the US which proved he could win on turf and dirt He proved that Australian Horses can be just as good as the US horses He came from a family which never was successful on the track at the start he wasn’t the prettiest horse
