DEATH OF PHAR LAP

Manawatu Standard, Volume LII, Issue 108, 7 April 1932, Page 7

DEATH OF PHAR LAP

POISON THEORY DISCOUNTED. ORIGINAL CAUSE ACCEPTED. STATEAIENT BY AIR D. J. DAVIS. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) SAN FRANCISCO, April 5. The death of the New Zealand-bred horse Pliar Lap, the equine idol of two hemispheres, from colic indigestion, has stunned the American sporting world. His trainer, T. AA'oodcock, who slept soundly only a few feet away from the thoroughbred, entered the horse’s stall upon awakening this morning. Ho found the animal lying down, and, being frightened, he summoned Air AV. Ncilson, the Australian veterinary surgeon, who had no difficulty in diagnosing the ailment. Air Ne'iison then plunged to the task of attempting to relieve the animal. AVitli other veterinary assistance he worked on his charge all the morning and into the afternoon. He bowed his head when Phar Lap drew his last breath. The illness of the gelding was guarded by the stable as a jealous secret. It has transpired that a party of visiting newspaper men this morning asked to be allowed to see the horse, and when permission was refused suspicion was aroused, but several hours elapsed before the actual fact could be determined. AA'lion the question was put directly, members of the stable, with tears coursing down their checks, confessed that death had claimed their charge. Later, rumours were current that the horse had been poisoned. Air Ncilson, AA’oodcock, and the jockey Elliott, all emphatically discounted the reports, but in order to remove all suspicion the authorities announced that they would make an investigation of the horse’s oats, of which twenty sacks remained of the original consignment brought from Australia. Little if any American food had been given Pliar La]) since his arrival. An autopsy was performed by two veterinary surgeons after rumours that Phar Lap had been poisoned had gained wide circulation. Their examination showed that the stomach was in a highly inflamed condition, and the veterinarians said that the irritation had been caused by food.

HORSE UNDER CONSTANT GUARD AA’lien rumours continued to circulate that the horse’s death was due to unnatural causes, the attendants pointed out that the “Red Terror” was under constant guard and that his trainer slept in the stall. It is said at Air E. Perry’s stables that the cause of death was plain illness, which developed under the watchful eye of AA’oodcock, who has scarcely been out of arm’s reach of his charge since the arrival of the horse in San Francisco on January 15. An affecting scene occurred when, after the confirmation of the horse’s death, restraint was lifted. AA’oodcock, giving way to his emotions, threw his arms round the neck of the horso and wept unrestrainedly. Airs Davis, wife of Air D. J. Davis, one of the horse’s owners, was hurriedly called to the ranch, and tried to comfort AA’oodcock, but to no avail. Friends finally were compelled to drag the trainer away from the horse and stable. It is believed that the trouble came from a small amount of green feed, which was part or the horse’s customary diet, two days ago, when he was operated on for a sore hoof and a portion was shaved off. It was announced at the time that lie trouble was not serious, and that a return to perfect condition within a few days was then expected. *

Alenlo Park trainers said that Phar Lap was permitted occasionally to nibble at a tuft of grass while exercising in an adjoining field, and veterinarians expressed the belief that foxtail or a bit of alfalfa or barley, sodden with dew, brought on the colic that finished his life.

Mr Davis said that Phnr Lap was valued at half a million dollars. Mrs Davis revealed that her husband had refused an offer of 300,000 dollars for Pliar Lap. She declared that they carried no insurance on him. “Wo never considered the commercial aspects of Bobby,” she said, using the stable name of Phar Lap. “With us the sporting phase was everything. That is why wo never insured him.” The New York Times’s Los Angeles correspondent states that Phar Lap’s death occurred the day after Mr Davis contracted with the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Film Corporation to bring the horse to Hollywood to make a series of short films depicting phases of the turf sport. DEATH FROM COLIC. NO FURTHER INQUIRY. PHAR LAP GUARDED IN DEATH. Received April 7, 9.55 a.m. MENLO PAkK, April 5. Discounting rumours that poisoning was suspected in connection with Phar Lap’s death, the owner of the horse, Mr D. J. Davis, announced to-day that the first findings, attributing tho cause of death to colic, had been definitely accepted. There would be no further inquiry. An earlier message from Menlo Park stated:—“Though the report that the ‘Red Terror’ was poisoned are discounted, Mr Davis asked a veterinary surgeon to examine the body again. The cause of the death was diagnosed as colic, induced by green feed nibbled from a Californian field.

“Mr E. Perry, the wealthy sportsman at whose stables Phar Lap died, said that in addition to colic a hard lump of food was found in the horse’s stomach. Mr Perry expressed the belief that the horse might have been saved if colic alone had caused the illness.

“Phar Lap is guarded in death as he was in life. An employee of Mr Perry remainded with the body all night.

“Mr Davis announces that he is planning to have the hide and skeleton shipped to Australia for mounting.” DIED AT PEAK OF HIS CAREER. GENERAL REGRET IN ENGLAND. Received April 7, 10.30 a.m. LONDON, April 0. There is general regret that the wonder horse, Phar Lap. died at the peak of his career. The Evening News has a streamline heading: “The world’s famous racehorse dead.” It is typical of the newspaper tributes. FAME OF PHAR LAP. HIGH COURAGE AND STAMINA. AMERICAN TRIBUTES. Received April 7, 8.5 a.m. NEW YORK, April 5. The New York Times’s sporting editor says: “Crack horses come and go on the turf, and their doings are

followed by thousands among lovers of thoroughbreds, but few attain such a hold on the imagination that their names and fame penetrate to the general public. To those not ordinarily interested in horses or horse-racing Phar Lap was rapidly gaining such a distinction in this country. It is hardly an exaggeration to say that his invasion was first viewed with a good deal of scepticism by many’ horsemen, but after Agua Caliente it was recognised that here was no ordinaryhorse. In one victory he convinced the critics that he had the rare combination of phlegmatic disposition, high courage, searing speed and stamina under weight. Alore could not be asked.”

The racing editor of the Chicago Tribune writes: “The death of Phar Lap comes as a shock to the Chicago racing colony. It hoped that the great Australian horse would continue on his greatest triumphs during the Chicago meetings. Our turf enthusiasts share the grief of the Australians, for they had been anticipating the moment when they could Irail Phar Lap as the greatest money-winning thoroughbred of all times.” “Sportsmen the world over and lovers of thoroughbreds in particular,” says the racing editor of the New A'ork Herald Tribune, “will learn with the deepest regret of the unfortunate death of Phar Lap. In his native Australia he was esteemed above the memorable Carbine. Although he had not established himself to such an exalted opinion in America he had done all that had been asked of him.”

Tho sporting editor of the Los Angeles Times says: “Every follower of racing in Southern California will be shocked by the sudden death of Phar Lap, one of the greatest horses who ever set hoof on American soil. They realise that the untimely loss of this wonderful thoroughbred is not only a great loss to the Antipodes, but also to every lover of racing here and everywhere else.” Air Joseph AA’idener, vice-chairman of the Jockey Club, in a statement given at his Pennsylvania estate, Baid : “I very much regret Phar Lap’s death. International races are always most interesting They are a stimulant to sport. I had hoped that he would meet some of our Eastern horses. It was my intention to arrange a special race in the autumn at Belmont Park with tho best horses which could be brought against him.” NEAA’S IN AUSTRALIA. TRAINERS ASTOUNDED. SYDNEY, April 6. Phar Lap’s death has stunned racing folk in Australia. Air Colin Stephen, chairman of the Australian Jockey Club, said that it was very bad news and one could scarcely realise it. Dr. AV. Stewart AlcKay, a veterinary surgeon, declared that Phar Lap must have been poisoned. He said that colic indigestion was only a symptom of something more serious. Dr. AlcKay, who was very upset, declined to say more. George Price, F. AA’illiams and other prominent ltandwick trainers were astounded and deeply grieved. They emphasised that Phar Lap was the greatest advertisement that Australia had ever had.

The jockey Pike, who piloted the horse in many races, almost collapsed from shock. He had formed a great attachment for the champion. AIR TELFORD AAIAZED. AIELBOURNE, April 6. Air H. R. Telford, part-owner of Phar Lap, was in the country duckshooting when news of the horse’s death reached him. He was amazed and declared that he had received no cablegram from either AA’oodcock or Mr Davis. He had been much opposed to Phar Lap going to America. He expressed the opinion that Australia and New Zealand would never see another like him. The horse was not insured, as insurance could not be effected on a trip over the water. Leading veterinary surgeons in Alelbourne agreed that all animals are profoundly affected by going from one hemisphere to another.

Messages during the last few days indicated that Phar Lap had not fully recovered from foot trouble, and the last cable prior to his death mentioned a slight operation to the injured hoof, but there was not the slightest hint of any fatal malady. No horse since Carbine has so caught the imagination of New Zealanders and Australians than has Phar Lap, and no horse has becomo such a world-wide figure, says the Dominion. It was at Mr Telford's property at Trentham that Phar Lap sojourned here a month before taking his final departure for San Francisco by the Monowai from Wellington on December 29 last. In this respect Wellington folk were possibly more concerned over the gelding’s sudden demise than the people elsewhere, for thousands of them made the trip out to Trentham to see him, and the placid and friendly temperament of the great horse endeared him to all. So far as is known here, Phar Lap was not insured. He was insured for £IO,OOO during his life in Australia, but on leaving New Zealand for America his connections were not prepared to pay the heavy increase demanded to cover him during his absence.