Phar Lap was a big horse, bigger than average that is. He weighed in at just over 600kg. Therefore to win the 1931
He followed up his 1930 victory by running eighth in the Cup in 1931 under a crushing 68 kg, the heaviest weight ever carried in the race.
For this race, Phar Lap was asked to carry an enormous 10st 10lbs, five pounds more than the weight-carrying record made by Carbine in 1890. About: One of the most inspiring Melbourne Cup victories is the story of Peter Pan.
The weight added to or deducted from a horse is all about making sure its racing betting odds are competitive. If a horse has bad form and a low OR coming into a race, their weight will likely be lower than their rivals, and so then their odds will fall.
It showed that Phar Lap was given tonics designed to boost his performance that included arsenic, strychnine, cocaine and caffeine. The find gave credence to Woodcock's deathbed admission in 1985 that Phar Lap may have been given an overdose of a tonic before the horse died in 1932.
The official autopsy determined that the horse died through “some poison substance in his stomach.” Experts from the U.S. Bureau of Food and Drugs conducted an investigation and determined that lead arsenate sprayed on oak trees on the ranch was spread by the wind and into the stable of Phar Lap, causing his death.
After Phar Lap's death Woodcock accepted a retainer from an American millionaire and horse breeder, Willis Sharpe Kilmer; he was obliged, however, to return home because he had contravened United States of America immigration laws. In 1934 he obtained a training permit from the Victoria Racing Club.
As a general rule a horse on average is able to carry a rider which is the same as or approximately 20% of the horse's weight. For example, if a horse weighs 1000 pounds then this horse can easily carry someone that weighs 200 pounds.
Horses carrying 25% and 30% of their body weight had higher heart and respiratory rates during exercise, and muscles that were more sore a day after exercise. So, in short, a good rule of thumb is that an average horse can carry 20% of his bodyweight (keeping in mind this is tack combined with the weight of the rider).
Put simply, the heavier the rider, the more likely the summative effects on horse performance. The same study has also confirmed that excessive rider weight can cause temporary lameness and discomfort.
Although Secretariat still holds some track records to this day, and is arguably the faster horse, Phar Lap was a big weight carrier. They never competed against each other as their careers were decades apart, so it is unlikely the debate will ever be solved.
Phar Lap was initially a failure as a racehorse, losing his first four races. However, in his four year career, Phar Lap won 37 of the 51 races in which he was entered, including the 1930 Melbourne Cup.
Phar Lap's Achievements and statistics
Phar Lap ended his brief career with an incredible 37 wins from 51 starts, which is a heavy load for just a five-year-old. He won $66,738, which in the 1930's was a very healthy sum. He's rated as the 22nd top US racehorse of all time, despite having only one run in North America.
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.
The horse Phar Lap is a legend of Australian sporting history. His sensational rise from humble beginnings captured the public's imagination during the difficult years of the 1930s Depression. Phar Lap won 37 races from 51 starts, including the 1930 Melbourne Cup.
It was removed by Canadian farrier James (Jimmy) Ferguson Smith after Phar Lap cracked his front left hoof on the pebbly track in early March, a few weeks before he was due to run in the Agua Caliente handicap. Smith made a special bar shoe to support the hoof, which Phar Lap wore during the race.
Bottom line: riders who move WITH a horse are “lighter” than people of the same weight who “ride like a sack of potatoes.” There is a popular misconception that big people should ride big horses. The reality is that smaller horses can carry a higher proportion of their own weight than bigger horses.
If your horse is forced to carry heavy weights beyond its capacity, it is at an increased risk for lameness, back pain, and balance problems. When its muscles have to work at an increased rate, they will get sore, indicating discomfort.
The researchers found that an average adult light riding horse could comfortably carry about 20 percent of their ideal bodyweight. This result agrees with the value recommended by the Certified Horsemanship Association and the U.S. Cavalry Manuals of Horse Management published in 1920.
Most horses seem to enjoy companionship and attention from their riders, but some may find being ridden uncomfortable and even scary. It is up to the individual horse to decide whether they like it. There are things you can do as a rider to help your horse feel more comfortable while being ridden.
Carrying a rider's weight can be hard work, so they need to be strong and free from injury. If all these needs are met, chances are most horses will be okay with being ridden and might even enjoy it from time to time.
While most healthy horses will be able to carry a rider and saddle, when the load exceeds 20-25% of their bodyweight, a horse will start to show physical signs indicative of stress and soreness.
Likewise, when Phar Lap is named “Lightning” by an Asian gentleman, it also occurred. In the DVD release, Burlinson says Woodcock believed the film was 90 percent true to tale. The film is richer for Woodcock's input, because he died less than two years after its release.
Sydney-based Australian trainer Harry Telford purchased Phar Lap for £160 with the help of American businessman David J. Davis. A young jockey, Aaron Treve ('Tommy') Woodcock, was employed by Telford as a strapper to care for Phar Lap. Woodcock and Phar Lap soon established a legendary partnership.
5 April 1932
Phar Lap arrived in Australia as a two-year-old. His name meant 'lightning' in the Thai language, and he lived up to it with his ability to finish races with a surge of speed. He was no looker, with warts all over his head. Having conquered Australia, Phar Lap was sent to North America.