PHAR LAP

Hokitika Guardian, 20 April 1932, Page 2

PHAR LAP

LAST GREAT RACE

AMAZEMENT OF AMERICA

SAN FRANCISCO, April 29

That great product of New Zealand horse racing, Phar Lap, who made turf history in the Antipodes, captured the public fancy here in a remarkable manner in the preliminaries leading up to the Agua Caliente Handicap, worth .10,050 dollars. Phar Lap had galloped an easy six furlongs in 1 min 20 secs, with Elliott aboard. This jockey, who is somewhat heavy, weighed 9s + 31b- and after the gallop lie stated that hi-; mount was in f firstclass condition. In all his work Phar Lap has always impressed and he was installed favourite for the event. Spanish Play, winner of the New Orleans Handicap, and Cabezo were the next best fancied. There were twentylive entries, but several withdrew for various reasons some believing they had no chance against Phar Lap. In the twelve-year history of the AVest’s greatest race there has been nothing to equal the popularity of the g ; ant New Zealand thoroughbred, for the “Red Terror”—as Phar Lap was generally alluded to hv both newspapers and racegoers—brought with him a fine record from “down under,” including several mile and a quarter races in time which, if repeated in Mexico, would win tho Agua. Caliente Stakes.

When Sunday arrived Caliente was over-run with thousands of race patrons and Hollywood cinema stars wero there in profusion, led by the ever-populnr George Arliss, of England. Greta Garbo and Claire Windsor were there with scores of other screen luminaries.

WELL BEHAVED. When the eleven horses praded to the barrier Spanish Play broke rapidly. An unusual circumstance marked the parade by Phar Lap galloping a quarter of a mile at unusually high speed. Evidently he was in form. He arrived at the post and was well behaved, standing quictl.’, in direct co'UP’st to Reveille Boy, who was extremely fractious, as is usual with this horse. Reveille Boy plunged considerably and was at last moved from his line to an outside position. The race at last started after a severely trying time of seven minutes’ delay, which militated greatly against Phar Lap, who was weighted at 9.3 compared with the 7.0 of the Californian entry, Bahamas. Dr Freeland got a good start, hut Phar Lap broke very slowly and was tenth leaving the barrier, moving ponderously under hits load. Phar Lap gradually asserted himself and at the quarter mile he had moved to fifth position, with remarkable stridesThe New Zealander proved,, a worthy contender and headed the field, lending by two lengths at the half-mile, with Spanish Piny second and Cnboso running third. The fractious Reveille Boy had cooled down considerably by this and was making a great pace, so much so that he was within a length of Phar Lap, who was running easily. At the three-quarter mile post Joe Flores was second, Reveille Boy had been relegated to third place and Spanish Play was fourth, At the mile Phar Lap was leading comfortably by a couple of lengths, all the competitors being unable to overcome his lead. The New Zealander increased his lend to three lengths and it was impossible for all America's finest horses to win the race, for Ell:ott was apparently holding Phar Lap back in order not to make the race a runaway. Yot this is what actually occurred, and Phar Lap passed the winning post some two and a half lengths in front, with Revelle Boy second, Scimitar, a rank outsider, was third half a length away; and Joe Flores was a'poor fourth.

Despite being held back Phar Lap established a new track record, clipping a full second from the best previous time. The New Zealand horse ran past the post in 2min 2 4-oseo for the mile and a quarter. It was a popular victory, for just before starting there had been tremendous betting on Pliar Lap to the almost total exclusion of all other starters, so positive were patrons that Phar Lap was to Ik 1 ) the. victor of the great race.

When Phar Lap was promenaded after the race he had not a bead of perspiration under his saddle and ho wag not breathing heavily. He appeared to lie as cool as a cucumber and had not been extended. This is the fact that caused the greatest wonderment at the rack, proving conclusively that tbe New Zealander might have won by at least twenty lengths had be been extended