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Phar Lap – A True Legend

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Phar Lap
Source: Museum Victoria
Photo: Benjamin Healley

Phar Lap is Melbourne Museum's most popular object.

From his amazing run of racetrack wins during the 1930s Depression to his sudden death in the USA, the Phar Lap story gripped the Australian imagination.

EVENT DETAILS

Event Type: Permanent Exhibition

Daily, Now Showing
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Melbourne Gallery

Included with museum entry.
MV Members receive FREE museum entry.

Comments (66)

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I like Phar Lap. He is a cool horse

I love Phar Lap but i dont like that his life was cut short :(

The thing about Phar Lap is, he is such a smooth ride, you could nod off on him.

"He wasn't just a horse!....He was the best." -Harry Telford, Trainer of Phar Lap

I really like Pha Lap.

cant wait to see phar lap im going to the cup and this will cap it right off for me

phar lap is so cool!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Phar lap is leg

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yo phar lap is a horse

i LOVE Phar Lap <3 i'v seen him many times! it makes me so mad to think that somone would won't to kill a part of australian history!

Phar Lap was an amzing horse and its death was a shame. Also I think everyone else who has commented on this should learn to use grammar and spell.

Phar Lap was an amazing race horse who died far too soon. I've seen Phar Lap each time I've visited the museum and always leave happier for the time that I've spent with him. In my opinion, Phar Lap's successes brought a nation together during a time of financial struggle for many Australians during the Great Depression. Phar Lap's legacy will live on for many years and he will continue to be appreciated by children and adults, alike.

Pharlap is an icon to Australian history it also shows me that tall poppie syndrome is apparent. Just when you are a champion there will always be something or someone that has foul play in mind. They could not stop him no matter how much extra weight they put on him. Pharlap you will always be my champion!

Such a beautiful horse, both physically & in spirit. I was honored to to stand next to him & gaze upon the champion that neither death or time could take away from those that loved him. May he live on forever in the hearts of those who came to know him, both now & in the past.

awsome awsome awsome !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! how old is pharlap ?

Melbourne Museum's Phar Lap website has a considerable amount of information on Phar Lap. The Facts page tells us that Phar Lap was foaled (born) at Timaru, New Zealand, on 4 October 1926. This would make him 85 years old today. He died in 1932, 70 years ago and his hide was mounted and is on display at Melbourne Museum, his skeleton is at the Museum of New Zealand, Te Papa Tongarewa, and his heart is at the National Museum of Australia in Canberra.

WOW!!! Which musseum in melbourne is his body in? cause we might see him

i thought phar laps body was in new zealand?? since he was born in newzealand...

Hi Phar Lap fan #1, if you have a look at the information above it notes that Phar Lap can be found in the Australia Gallery at Melbourne Museum. Hope you enjoy visiting him.

of course i will i love love love love phar lap . he is a legand !!!!!!!!!!! MY HERO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AD WHERE ABOUTS IS THE MELBOURNE MUSSEUM ? FOR EVER IN OUR HEARTS PHAR LAP

by the way i am the same person .Pharlap is a TRUE LEGAND .i could go on forever about him. He is in my heart for ever ................ Sad that he died at the age of 5 phar lap rules this world

I have waited since i was 9 and im 13 now too see pharlap he was the most amazing thing i have ever seen!! i love him so much i am doing a school project with my friend on him. Me being a horse rider and having my own horses i'd hate to see the horse i love die! but i think everyone in australia and world-wide will remember the great hero on the 1900's. R.I.P Phar Lap the true Legend!

to PHAR LAP FAN 1# he's in Street address: Melbourne Museum 11 Nicholson St Carlton, Victoria, 3053

I love love love him he is an all round legend. He is one of my heros of all time and i will love him for ever and ever. R.I.P Matey

thanks so much i love phar lap so much we done a goup project on famous australians i of course love phar lap so i chose him .some other groups done history of murray bridge and alsorts of stuff .i cant wait to see him bye the way i wanted to see him last year when i was eight now i am nine turnig ten

TO PHAR LAP FAN #1, Im glad you are doing Phar Lap for your project, he really is a great hero and legend. Crazy Horse Rider Chick is doing the project on him with me we are seeing if it was accidental or if it was murder. Good Luck on your project. Regards, Adele

i would love to ride phar lap because he looks like a very spirited horse and i am horse crazy and a very good rider my favourite gait is gallop

phar lap is the best horse that ever lived and he shuld have been alive for everyone to see he is a ledgend and that i really miss him.

LOVE Phar Lap ..................... 1# legand.i would pay 99 billion dollars for him ... TOTALL LEGAND people belive me

Phar Lap is an amazing horse!!

we fans here in the us honor your great champion phar lap.huge and fast we were in awe at this magnificent horse.his passing was truly a blow to all of us horse fans.he is among the greats in history.

Greet Stuff!!!!!!!!!!

Why did they ever geld him he wouldve been the best stallion he will always be the best stayer in australia

how did phar lap die?

coming to melbourne monday can't wait !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!hope we will see him first !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

yyyyyaaayyyyy here in melbourne !!!!!!!!!!!!! seee pharlap soon !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OMG................. SAW HIM ON TUESDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!GOT SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO MANY PICTURES OF 'IM

Guys your all right Phar Lap is the best horse in the world i looooooooooooooooooooooooooove him and will never forget him i wish i got to ride him in track work and be his strapper like Tommy Woodcock did. such a champion. iv been to vist him plenty of times at melbourne i ride big thoroughbreds like him and their beautiful animals to ride

Just recently went to Melbourne Museum to see Tutankahmum. I'm 14, you'd think that 14 year olds would hate history. I love it. I seen Pharlap, and I was in oar. <3 He is amazing. He's such an amazing horse, now I just want to go to Camberra to see his heart.

next stop............. canberra proberbly next year

HELLO I LOVE HOrSES!! PHAR LAP IS A LEDGAND FOR EVER!

He is such an inspiration and i think he would have been an exellent warrior. love him always and ledgand forever and ever. lots of love Phar Lap.

We love Phar Lap sooo much we know everything about him . We even went and saw him. He is sooo cute and pretty we could go on about him for ever we love him sooo much !!!!!!!!!

Pharlap was a very quick hourse. He is fast. I like Pharlap.

Phar Lap is the greatest thing that ever hapend to the racing world. Why did he half to die. He will always be missed.:(

go phar lap

Phar lap is a great horse and he lives in all of our memories. R.I.P. Phar Lap

phar lap the fastest horse in the world to date

I LUV PHAR LAP :) and how big is his heart? a lot of people say its big but i dont know exactly how big it is.

Hi Nathan, to answer your question, have a look at the information on Phar Lap's heart from the National Museum of Australia in Canberra (that's where his heart is!).

sweet as horse

he is cool

I <3 Phar lap and going to see him tomorrow. By the way what kind of horse is Phar lap and how popular is he today?

Dear Horse Chick,

Thank you for your enquiry about what type of horse Phar Lap was, Phar Lap was a thoroughbred horse. Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers to the Thoroughbred breed.

His Sydney trainer Harry Telford was a keen student of thoroughbred bloodlines and spent countless hours poring over pedigree charts. He believed he had found a future champion in a colt that was shortly due to sell in New Zealand. Sired by Night Raid and foaled out of Entreaty.

Please see this link to find out more information about Phar Lap.

Phar Lap is still one of the most popular exhibits at the Museum, and many visitors make him their first stop.

you rule phar lap.

A beautiful big horse that captured the hearts of so many, and continues to do so today. I love the display at the Melbourne Museum, a fitting display for such a champion racehorse.

Wish I could have seen him race in person. Phar Lap had speed, power, and heart. If he had the chance to meet the top horses of the day in the U.S., he would have beaten them all. I would love to come to Melbourne Museum and see him in person but having horses and cost to fly and stay right now is a little out of my league. Hopefully someday.

he is so call

A Kiwi legend - just like pavalova

I love you Phar Lap " Go Bobby Boy " say stapper Tommy Woodcock

"Songs have been sung about heroes, Who flew across the sea... But here's a song about someone, Who sailed across the foam, And he made fame for Australia's name, But he'll never come back home. Just a wonder horse known on every course, From Australia to USA..." --Phar Lap, Farewell To You (song,1932) Last post at Agua Caliente: "Come on, Phar Lap..Phar Lap, you beauty!"

I wish Phar lap still existed i love him so muchhe is like 1D to me :)

Phar lap is an amazing horse I dont understand why would they poisin him???

We all must remember 2 things. 1-he was a amazing horse and died a terrible death 2-he was born in NZ.

WHAT A HORSE? AWSUM!!!!!!!! :)