PHAR LAP INJURED

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LX, Issue 10825, 23 March 1932, Page 2

PHAR LAP INJURED

Hurt During Decoration

With Roses.

may not UUN ON SUNDAY

Aguas Calientes. March 21

Phar Lap dozed behind stoutlybarred doors on Monday, resting. His trainer, T. Woodcock, revealed Hun Thar Lap braised a leg when objecting, with seeming modesty, to having a wreath of roses wound around his neck at the judge’s stand. The bruise was not serious Woodcock said, but may make his log sore for a day or two. In Australia it is the custom to hang ribbons on the bridle of the winner, and Phar Lap was frightened by the flowers. The horse has been nominated by the owner, Air D. J. Davis, for the Aguas Calienes Consolation Cut', of one mile and a-half. a sweepstake with £SOO added, and which is the feature on Sunday for the closing of the track for the winter season. While the nomination was made on Sunday night Mr Davis was not aware of the bruise, and Woddcock said on Monday that it was doubtful whether his charge would start. Woodcock confined his comment on the race to a broad grin, and the remark that his primary interest was proving that a horse could travel 10,000 miles and be trained by the Australian method in eight weeks to win a great race under unfamiliar running conditions. Woodcock called his system the Australian method, but all present were willing to hand to him alone the laurel wreath.

The jockey, Elliott, said that Phar Lap ran just the way he wanted to and exactly as had been planned. “I took him wide on the first turn because it was his first race on a dirt track and I could see he did not know what to make of it when the leaders began kicking dirt in his face.”

The future plans for the “Red Terror” have not been formulated. He will be taken east, probably to Chicago, within a short time. A message from Vancouver states that Phar Lap will rest several week; before he is moved from Agua Caliente to the Middle West to prepare for the Arlington Park races. Despatches from New York slate that it is understood that Mr Joseph Mcl ennan, racing secretary of the South Maryland Agricultural Association, has been in communication with Mr Davis regarding the possible appearance of Phar Lap on the Bowie track, Maryland, early in April. He seems confident that an agreement can be made. The Bowie track wul be opened on April 1. This is regarded as the formal opening of the eastern spring season, Expei'.s think Phar Lap needs races in order tc keep in his best form for the forthcoming season. Therefore his participation in Hie Bowie races is regarded as a logical commencement. The New York Herald Tribune praises Phar Lap for his victory and mentions the great distance he was transported as not the least amazing feature of that victory. It says the horse’s presence on the eastern (racks this spring and summer would stimulate the racing of the coming season. “This truly wonderful horse,” says the paper, “gave an exhibition at Agua Caliente which is bound to stimulate racing. Few horses can win long distance races as well as sprint races. Phar Lap is one of the exceptions.”