Phar Lap Death Resolved after 75 yrs?????

Question

After 75 years, scientists have finally came up with the testing on Phar Lap one of the greatest race horses in the 30's.

It was resolved and declared on Tuesday June 17, 2008 by 11 scientists, and the DNA testing that was submitted to them in February of this year, from the remains of the horses autopsy of 1932, when back then it remained a mystery, as they did not have the lastest testing methods...this is a shame

Phar Lap died of Arsenic Poisoning, and a lot of it....

CNN states horse was killed to prevent him from running ever again.......

I have the movie of Phar Lap and it is so sad to watch this horse die in the movie.......and now the mystery is resolved..

did someone in the horse world do this, or did the owners do it for insurance, that still remains a mystery, and one I am sure they will never know, since the 4 owners of the horse all are dead now....

Have any of you ever seen this horse run.....not even Barbaro culd have caught this horse back then..

Answer 1

I read that, it's amazing what scientists can do today.

It's such a shame, he was an incredible horse.

I love that movie but can't watch it too often, it's sad. :(

Answer 2

I am surprised this DNA test wasnt carried out earlier what with todays technology.

However, it is good they still cared enough to look into the causes.

I just hope with the recent highlights of this story and the death of Eight Belles that the racing industry will consider changing its policies. There was also another feature in the yahoo news about ex-racehorses being rescued and another story from the Congress debating about the TB breed becoming weaker from the pressure and greed of competition.

Answer 3

I know, this is an amazing discovery, but it only brings up more questions. Phar Lap was an amazing racer, though. I would have absolutely loved to see him run. That would be amazing! :)

Answer 4

i heard some where the other day that they used to give it to horse for some form or something but it was ment to be good for them in some form so thats what every one was feeding there horses i was also told that

the death of phar lap was an accedent from him trainer that was feeding him and may "over used" the drug. but back then aparently it was the thing to do? god knows what it did for them?

Answer 5

now theres so many more questions..but how weird i mean it was bearly discoverd!!!!!

Answer 6

I read that today. What an amazing story.

Answer 7

Never a doubt in my mind that he wasn't poisoned.  Competition murdered him.  I don't believe the owners did.  Why kill something that was consistent with winnings?  Sad movie it is though.  Exceptional racehorse he was!

Answer 8

WOW...I love that movie, In fact it is my all time favorite horse movie. It was on TV just last week. I always believed that he was poisoned because they could not control the ability to make him lose, he was a "FREAK" and no matter what they did they could not stop him. I dont know if it  was a mafia thing or the racing commission. Thank You I have always wondered.

Answer 9

i was eading that one the front page of the yahoo site,  it said the horse owners could have overdosed the horse by acident: "Notebooks kept by Phar Lap’s handler Tommy Woodcock, obtained by Museum Victoria, show the horse was administered tonics and ointments containing both arsenic and strychnine. An accidental overdose has long been considered the likely cause of death."