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Phar Lap Poisoning Was Accidental - 04-15-08
April 15 - Phar Lap was a national icon. He was a giant (17.1 hands) racehorse, and at the time of his death the third highest ranking stakes winner in the world. In fact he was such a sure thing that many bookmakers refused to accept bets or offered very short odds on him.
Phar Lap was bred in New Zealand, but never raced there. He was sold and taken to Australia where he dominated the race tracks throughout his distinguished career. He was given the nickname of "Australia's Wonder Horse", but was also known as 'Big Red' (the same name as the US champion horses Man 'O War and later Secretariat). Phar Lap won 37 races out of 51 starts but died tragically when he was only 6 years old.
Harry Telford, Phar Lap's trainer kept a diary and the contents have just recently been exposed. It appears that the death of Par Lap was accidental and not intentional as many have believed over the years.
Phar Lap had a tonic called Fowler's Solution administered to him throughout his career. It contained a mixture of arsenic and strychnine and was a popular booster in those days. It is believed that Tommy Woodcock who was Phar Lap's handler gave Phar Lap other medicines that contained cocaine and caffeine in order to counteract the effect traveling had on him as well. Those medicines, combined with the Fowler's Solution may have been what killed him. Arsenic builds up in the body with repeated use and eventually becomes fatal.
Telford did not travel with Phar Lap and was therefore unaware that Woodcock might be administering added medications, and Woodcock was patently unaware that the combination of drugs might be dangerous.
Phar Lap died in Woodcock's arms in 1932.
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