GENERAL REGRET

Hokitika Guardian, 7 April 1932, Page 2

GENERAL REGRET

AT THAR LAP’S END ILLNESS DEVELOPS RAPIDLY. (United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph— Copyright.) * NEW YORK, April 5. l’har Lap was stricken in the morning. The symptoms developed so rapidly that the veterinarians were unable to counteract them, and the horse died at 2.20 o’clock in the afternoono. The newis of Phar Lap’s death was withheld for an hour.

At the time of its death, Mr Davis was eti route to Los Angeles. The atattenfl'auts were unable to immediately notify him.

Phar Lap was brought to Perry’s Farm to be groomed for the forthcoming 250,000 dollar race on Tanforan track, and at the same time to treat his bruised hoof. Doctor Neikon directed the efforts to save the life of the horse. He was visibly moved by the death of Phar Lap l , as were the attendants.

Prior to the death of Phar Lap) Trainer Woodcock, who slept soundly only a few feet away ftoni the thoroughbred, entered tiro horse’s stall upon wakening this morning. He found that the animal was lying down, and he became frightened. Ho summoned the veterinary, -Hr, Neilson, who hrd no difficulty in diagnosing the ailment. The veterinary then plunged into the task of endeavouring to relieve the animal. With other veterinary assistance, he worked on his charge all of the morning and into the afternoon. Dr. Neilson bowed his head when Phar Lap drew his last breath. ' 1 ' J

The illness of the gelding was guard ed by the stable as a. jealous secret.

.■lt has transpired that a party or visiting newspaper men this morning asked to he allowed to see the horse, and that, when permission was refused them, suspicion was aroused, but several hours elapsed before the actual fact could be determined.

When the question was put directly tb members of the stable, tears were coursing down their cheeks, and ruey confessed that death had, claimed tneir charge.

A message from Menlo Park, California, state©: 'Pending the arrival of phar Lap’s owner, Mr Davis, who is eh. route by aeroplane from Los Angles, no arrangements have been made to analyse the contents of the animals stomach; but it is said at the ltd l Perry stables, that the cause of death was plain illness, which had developed lipder the watchful eye' of Trainer Woodcock, who-had scarcely been out farm's reach of hist, charge since arrival of the horse in San Francisco on January 15th. It is believed that tliei illness'came from a small amount of 'green feed which had ben part of the horse’s customary diet, Two days agi, when the horse was operated on for. the sore hoof, a portion of the hcpf was-’ shaved off. It was announced at© that time that the state of the Jiofse wae not serious, and his return to perfect condition within a few days then expected,

RUMOURS OF POISONING. '# REFUTED BY THE STABLE. SAN FRANCISCO, April 5. After the netvs of Pliar Lap’s death became known, rumours became current that the horse had been poisoned. Dr. Neilson, Trainer Woodcock and Jockey Elliott, however, all emphatically discounted these rumours; 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 tj the racer since his arrival.

News from Menlo Park states that his trainers said that Phar Lap had been permitted occasionally to nibble at a tuft of grass while exercising in an adjoining fin’d, and the veterinarians expressed' the belief that some foxtail, or a bit of alfalfa, or some harley sodden with dew brought on the colic that ft":shed the horse’s life.

Mr Joseph Widcnr-, the Vice-Chair-man of the Jockcv Club, in a statement, given at bis Pennsylvania Estate, said: “T very very much regret Phar Lap’s death. International races are always most interesting. They are a stimulant to the sport. T had hoped that he would meet i=ome of our Eastern horses. It was my intention to arrange a 'special race in the. autumn at Belmont Park with the best horses which could be brought against him.’' The Racipg F.ditor of the “Now Torlc Hera lit!-Tribund’' states:--“Sportsmen the world over, and lovers of 'thoroughbreds in particular, wjll learn with the dee post regret of th» unfortunate death of Phar Lap. To ]jis native Australia he was esteemed above the memorable Carbine. Although he bad not established himself to istieh an exalted opinion in America yet he bad done all that had I icon asked of him.”

TELFORD IS AMAZED

WAS AGAINST /'MERICAN TRIP

MELBOURNE, April fi

Mr Telford, the part owner of Pliar Lap, was in the country flunk shooting when the news of the horse’s death

reached him. He was amazed, and declared that he had received 110 cablegram from either Trainer Woodcock or Mr Davis.

Mr Telford said be was much opposed to Phar Lap going to America He expressed the opinion that Australia. and New Zealand would never see another like him. He said the horse was not insured, as an insurance could not be effected on the trip over the water.

TRAINER BREAKS DOWN.

AFFECTING SCENE AT THE END.

SAN FRANCISCO, April 5

An affecting scene occurred, when, after the confirmation of the death ot Phar Lap, restraint was lifted.

Trainer Woodcock, giving way to his emotions, threw his arms round the neck of the horse, and wept unrestrainedly.

Mrs Davis was hurriedly called to the ranch, and she tried to comfort “Woodcock, but it was of no avail. His friends finally were compelled to drag the trainer away from the horse and the stable.

THE VALUE OF THE HORSE.

300,000 DOLLARS REFUSED

NEW YORK, April 6. Mr Davis Said that lie valtifed Phar Lap at, Half a tfilllibn dollar^. Mrs Davis revealed that her husband' iidd refused aii offer of three hundred thoifsafid dollars for Phar Dap, She declared that they carried ho in. suraiice on him. "We never considered the commercial aspects of Bobby,'’ ,<he said, using the stable name oi Phar Lap. "With us the sporting phase was everything, and that is wdiy we never insured him.”

Tlie “New York Times’ ” Los Angeles correspondent states: Phar Lap's death occured the day .after Mr Davis had contracted with the Metro-Gold-wyn-Mayer Film Corporation to bring the horse to Hollyivood to make .» series of short films depicting a pha»e of the turf sport. . HIS MEMORY WILL LIVE. AMERICAN PRESS TRIBUTE. NEW YORK, April 5. The “‘New York Times’s” Sporting. Editor says: “Crack horses come and go on the turf, and, in the years, their greatness is again followed by thousands among the lovers of thoroughbreds, but few attain such a hold on the imagination that their names and fame penetrate to the general public to those who are not ordinarily interested in horses or in horse racing. i

Phar Lap was rapidly gaining such a distinction in this country. It is hardly an exaggeration to say that his invasion was at first viewed with a good deal of scepticism by many horsemen; but, after the Aguii Calielite Handicap, it ivas fecd&iiised hero- that he was lio tfrdittwwr horse. lii. one victory he convinced the critics that he had the rare combination of <> phlegmatic disposition, high courage, searing - speed, and stamina under weight. More’could not be asked!”

The Racing Editor of the “Chicago Tribune” says: The death of Phar Lap comes as a shock to the Chicago racing colony. Tt had been hoped that the great- Australian horse Mould continue on his greatest triumphs during his Chicago meetings. Our turf enthusiasts share the grief of the Australians for they had been anticipating the moment when they could hail Phar Lap as the greatest money-,winning thoroughbred of all times.” The Sporting Editor of the “Los Angeles Times” says: “Every follower of racing in Southern California is shocked at the sudden death of Phar Lap, one of . the greatest racehorse* that ever set hoof on American soil. They have realised that the untimely loss of this wonderful thoroughbred is not only a great loss to the Antipodes, but to every Ivoer of racing here and everywhere else ”

GRIEF IN AUSTRALIA. “GREATEST ADVERTISEMENT.” SYDNEY, April 6. The news of Phar Lap’s death has stunned the racing folk of Australia. Mr Colin Stephen, the Chairman of the Australian Jockey Club, said: “Tt is very bad news. It is scarcely realisable.” Mr George Price and Mr F. Williams, and other prominent Randwick trainers, were astounded at the neu's, and were deeply grieved. They emphasised tint Phar Lap has been the greatest advertisement that Australia ever had. The jockey Pike, who piloted tin* horse in many of his laces, almost collapsed at the shock. He had formed a great attachment for the champion.

STOMACH INFLAMED

WHAT EXAMINATION SHOWED. NEW YORK, April 6. A Menlo Park messages states that an autopsy was performed by two veterinarians after the rumours that Phar I tin had been poisoned had gained wide circulation. ' The examination showed that the . ‘ tomach was in a highly-inflamcß. condition, and the veterinarians said that the irritation was caused by food. Pliar Lap was ailing at f> a.in on Tuesday, when Trainer Woodcock awoke to prepare him for bis morning exorcise . When i-c lours continued to circulate that the horse’s death was due to unnatural causes, the attendants pointed silt that, “The Red Terror” had been under constant guard, the trainer sleeping in the stall.

VIEWS OF VETS

MELBOURNE, April 6,

Leading veterinarians in •Melbourne agree that all animals are profoundly affected by going from one hemisphere to another.

Doctor W. Stewart McKay, a veterinary, declared: “Phar Lap must have been poisoned!” The doctor added: “The colic and indigestion would only be the symptoms of something more serious.” Dr. McKay was very upset. He declined to say any more.

further investigations

TO BE SHIPPED FOR MOUNTING

(Received this day at 9.25 a.m) MENLO PARK, April 6

Further investigations into Phar Lap’s death have been ordered for Wednesday by the owner, Mr Davis. Though -reports that the “Red Terror was poisoned are discounted, Mr Davis has asked the veterinarian to examine the body again. The cause of deatli was diagnosed as colic, induced by green -feed, nibbled from a Californian field. Mr Perry, a wealthy sportsman, at whose stable-" Unar Lap died, said that, in addition to colic, a hard lump of food Mas found in the horse’s stomach. Mr Perry expressed the belief that the horse might havß beeii saved if colic alone had caused the illness. Pliat Lap is guarded iii death as lie was in life. An employee of Mr Perry remained U’ith the body ali nigot, Mr Davis announced that he is planning to have the hide and skeleton shipped t° Australia for mounting,