Year 9 NSW » History » Australia between the wars: 1930s » An event in the 1930s

Topic : An event in the 1930s

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Chapter 1 : The death of Phar Lap

Phar Lap, meaning 'lightning,' was also known as 'The Australian Wonder Horse,' 'The Red Terror,' 'Big Red,' or as 'Bobby'
Foaled in New Zealand he was sold at auction for only £168 to Sydney trainer, Harry Telford who had convinced wealthy businessman David J. Davis to put up the finances
Phar Lap began as a mischievous, weak and clumsy horse, coming dead last in his very first race before winning a series of races to make third in the 1929 Melbourne Cup
Phar Lap took out the 1930 Melbourne Cup despite carrying more than 15 pounds for his age and an incident involving an attempt to kill him
Phar Lap was the first 'odds on' favourite to ever win the Melbourne Cup and came away from the carnival with a total of £12 429 in winnings
In the 1931 Melbourne Cup, Phar Lap's last race in Australia, the horse which stood a large 205 centimetres high was handicapped a massive 68 kilograms and came eighth
He raced in the Agua Caliente Handicap, overcoming the travelling, unfamiliar heat, dirt track and 129 pounds of weight to place first, break the old record and win the $US50 000 prize money
There are a number of theories, including that he was poisoned, behind Phar Lap's death in 1932 on a ranch near San Francisco
The people of Australia were devastated by his death, owing to his symbolising hope for them during the hard times of the Depression
As one of five inaugural members of the Australian Racing Hall of Fame, he is also remembered through films and books.

Chapter 2 : Opening Sydney Harbour Bridge

Chapter 3 : Aboriginal Day of Mourning

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