Friday, June 20, 2008
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Forensics confirm Phar Lap poisoned
Jun 19, 2008 2:54 PM
Phar Lap achieved what many a rock star has promised but not delivered - live fast, die young and leave a beautiful corpse. Mystery has always surrounded the tragic death in America of the champion gelding during the Depression years when he was at the height of his powers, with arsenic poisoning long suspected. Two researchers - Dr Ivan Kempson from the University of South Australia and Dermot Henry, manager of Natural Science Collections at Museum Victoria - have now confirmed those suspicions. But they can't answer the other burning question - whose hand gave Big Red the arsenic? Kempson took six hairs from Phar Lap's mane and analysed them at the Advanced Photon Source Synchrotron in Chicago and found it was possible to distinguish between arsenic which had been ingested and arsenic which had been used in the taxidermy process. He found that in the 40 hours leading up to Phar Lap's death in a California stable in April, 1932 the horse had ingested a massive dose of arsenic. "We can't speculate where the arsenic came from, but it was easily accessible at the time," Henry said. History suggests it was probably strapper Tommy Woodcock who may have mistakenly put too much arsenic in one of his tonics for his beloved Phar Lap. Woodcock was acting as trainer for the first time on the trip to the US, with Phar Lap's regular handler Harry Telford remaining at home to look after the rest of his stable. Museum Victoria recently obtained Telford's handwritten notebook of homeopathic recipes which were used to stimulate horses. The museum bought it at auction for $A38,000 in April and it contains ingredients involving arsenic and strychnine that were used in tonics and ointments. Telford purchased Phar Lap in New Zealand in 1928 and after four unimpressive starts in Australia, the majestic dark chestnut gelding won the 1929 Victoria and AJC derbies followed by the 1930 Melbourne Cup. Between September 1929 and March 1932, Phar Lap ran 41 races and won 36 of them. It was an astonishing performance. With the advent of newsreels, the 17-hands-high Phar Lap became one of Australia's greatest sporting heroes as his name and deeds spread far beyond the confines of the racetrack. In his one and only race in America, Phar Lap won the 1932 Agua Caliente Handicap, the richest race in North America at the time. But he never raced again. Woodcock found the champion horse seriously ill on April 5 and within hours Phar Lap was dead - and the legend born. Curator Michael Reason, who successfully bid for Telford's notebooks, doubts there is any more Phar Lap memorabilia floating around. He said the 1930 Melbourne Cup was probably melted down by Telford and sold for its metal value. "There was no sporting memorabilia market back then and the temptation would have been to melt it down and sell it," Reason said. Phar Lap's Cox Plate cup was recently purchased by Makybe Diva owner Tony Santic for around $400,000 and if the 1930 Melbourne Cup has survived, Reason says it would be worth more than $1 million. Phar Lap's skeleton is on exhibit in Wellington at Te Papa and his heart is at the National Museum in Canberra. His stuffed body - his hide mounted on a shell of moulded materials - is one of Melbourne Museum's most popular exhibits.
Phar Lap achieved what many a rock star has promised but not delivered - live fast, die young and leave a beautiful corpse. Mystery has always surrounded the tragic death in America of the champion gelding during the Depression years when he was at the height of his powers, with arsenic poisoning long suspected. Two researchers - Dr Ivan Kempson from the University of South Australia and Dermot Henry, manager of Natural Science Collections at Museum Victoria - have now confirmed those suspicions. But they can't answer the other burning question - whose hand gave Big Red the arsenic? Kempson took six hairs from Phar Lap's mane and analysed them at the Advanced Photon Source Synchrotron in Chicago and found it was possible to distinguish between arsenic which had been ingested and arsenic which had been used in the taxidermy process. He found that in the 40 hours leading up to Phar Lap's death in a California stable in April, 1932 the horse had ingested a massive dose of arsenic. "We can't speculate where the arsenic came from, but it was easily accessible at the time," Henry said. History suggests it was probably strapper Tommy Woodcock who may have mistakenly put too much arsenic in one of his tonics for his beloved Phar Lap. Woodcock was acting as trainer for the first time on the trip to the US, with Phar Lap's regular handler Harry Telford remaining at home to look after the rest of his stable. Museum Victoria recently obtained Telford's handwritten notebook of homeopathic recipes which were used to stimulate horses. The museum bought it at auction for $A38,000 in April and it contains ingredients involving arsenic and strychnine that were used in tonics and ointments. Telford purchased Phar Lap in New Zealand in 1928 and after four unimpressive starts in Australia, the majestic dark chestnut gelding won the 1929 Victoria and AJC derbies followed by the 1930 Melbourne Cup. Between September 1929 and March 1932, Phar Lap ran 41 races and won 36 of them. It was an astonishing performance. With the advent of newsreels, the 17-hands-high Phar Lap became one of Australia's greatest sporting heroes as his name and deeds spread far beyond the confines of the racetrack. In his one and only race in America, Phar Lap won the 1932 Agua Caliente Handicap, the richest race in North America at the time. But he never raced again. Woodcock found the champion horse seriously ill on April 5 and within hours Phar Lap was dead - and the legend born. Curator Michael Reason, who successfully bid for Telford's notebooks, doubts there is any more Phar Lap memorabilia floating around. He said the 1930 Melbourne Cup was probably melted down by Telford and sold for its metal value. "There was no sporting memorabilia market back then and the temptation would have been to melt it down and sell it," Reason said. Phar Lap's Cox Plate cup was recently purchased by Makybe Diva owner Tony Santic for around $400,000 and if the 1930 Melbourne Cup has survived, Reason says it would be worth more than $1 million. Phar Lap's skeleton is on exhibit in Wellington at Te Papa and his heart is at the National Museum in Canberra. His stuffed body - his hide mounted on a shell of moulded materials - is one of Melbourne Museum's most popular exhibits.
Horse mystery, 75 years later
Phar Lap died of arsenic poisoning.
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP)—Forensic scientists say champion Australian gelding Phar Lap died of arsenic poisoning, solving a mystery that has intrigued the horse racing world for more than 75 years.
Phar Lap won 37 of his 51 starts before his death in mysterious circumstances at Menlo Park in California in April 1932. Days before his death, he won Mexico’s Agua Caliente Handicap, which was then the richest horse race in North America.
Arsenic poisoning has long been suspected as the cause of Phar Lap’s death, but confirmation had been lacking until Thursday when researchers Dr. Ivan Kempson of the University of South Australia and Dermot Henry, manager of Natural Science Collections at Museum Victoria, released the findings of their forensic investigation.
Kempson took six hairs from Phar Lap’s mane and analyzed them at the Advanced Photon Source Synchrotron in Chicago, finding that in the 40 hours before Phar Lap’s death the horse had ingested a massive dose of arsenic.
Phar Lap’s mounted hide is on display at the Melbourne Museum, while his heart is kept at the National Museum of Australia in Canberra.
“We can’t speculate where the arsenic came from, but it was easily accessible at the time,” Henry said.
Notebooks kept by Phar Lap’s handler Tommy Woodcock, obtained by Museum Victoria, show the horse was administered tonics and ointments containing both arsenic and strychnine. An accidental overdose has long been considered the likely cause of death.
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP)—Forensic scientists say champion Australian gelding Phar Lap died of arsenic poisoning, solving a mystery that has intrigued the horse racing world for more than 75 years.
Phar Lap won 37 of his 51 starts before his death in mysterious circumstances at Menlo Park in California in April 1932. Days before his death, he won Mexico’s Agua Caliente Handicap, which was then the richest horse race in North America.
Arsenic poisoning has long been suspected as the cause of Phar Lap’s death, but confirmation had been lacking until Thursday when researchers Dr. Ivan Kempson of the University of South Australia and Dermot Henry, manager of Natural Science Collections at Museum Victoria, released the findings of their forensic investigation.
Kempson took six hairs from Phar Lap’s mane and analyzed them at the Advanced Photon Source Synchrotron in Chicago, finding that in the 40 hours before Phar Lap’s death the horse had ingested a massive dose of arsenic.
Phar Lap’s mounted hide is on display at the Melbourne Museum, while his heart is kept at the National Museum of Australia in Canberra.
“We can’t speculate where the arsenic came from, but it was easily accessible at the time,” Henry said.
Notebooks kept by Phar Lap’s handler Tommy Woodcock, obtained by Museum Victoria, show the horse was administered tonics and ointments containing both arsenic and strychnine. An accidental overdose has long been considered the likely cause of death.
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