Phar Lap [Hardcover]

Geoff Armstrong (Author), Peter Thompson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 2001

A tribute to Australia's greatest racing horse ever. Presented with archival photographs, the book is a record of Phar Lap's life and achievements, and a chronicle of his impact on the culture of Australia. Also included are stories from Henry Lawson and Banjo Patterson, specially commissioned pieces by prominent racing figures, and contributions from staff at the Museum of Victoria - the final resting place of the champion. For decades, schoolchildren have visited the museum; this book is published to coincide with its reopening, when Phar Lap - its most famous exhibit - will take pride of place.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Phar Lap, the one and only, a freak, a horse of the century." -- A. B. 'Banjo' Paterson

...the most complete history of a racehorse that captured the hearts of millions of fans on both hemispheres. -- Horse Professional

A must on the shelves of racing fans and historians. -- Contra Costa Times

Beautiful new book that contains all kinds of new and updated information about this legendary Australian champion. -- California Thoroughbred Magazine

About the Author

Geoff Armstrong has been involved in sports writing as author, editor, publisher and researcher for over a decade. He wrote the official centenary book of the Sheffield Shield A Century of Summers and he compiled and edited the rugby league anthology The Greatest Game. He is co-author with Mark Gately of the first history of Australia in international one-day cricket and together with Mike Whitney he wrote Whiticisms. Geoff also worked with Australian cricket captain Steve Waugh on all seven of Waugh's best-selling books. Peter Thompson's fascination with racing began when his grandmother backed Piping Lane at 40-1 to win the 1972 Melbourne Cup. As a commentator on sporting issues, his opinions have been read in the Age, The Financial Review and BRW and heard as that of Thommo from the Track' on Melbourne Radio's 3AW. As an owner of several slow horses, he has often been heard to invoke the chant of the hopelessly optimistic: 'Even Phar Lap ran last in his first race'.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Allen & Unwin Pty., Limited (Australia) (April 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1865083461
• ISBN-13: 978-1865083469
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 9 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,795,880 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fall in love with Phar Lap, August 6, 2001

By 

Mary M. Perri "playmusicnow" (Rochester, NY) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Phar Lap (Hardcover)

I knew I was in trouble the moment I saw the cover of this book with the beautiful chestnut horse named Phar Lap. I knew I just had to have this book. I knew because I had seen the movie, Phar Lap, years ago and had fallen in love with this incredibly beautiful and gifted animal that had a heart and soul big enough to affect those that loved him and those that knew him from afar.

This beautifully crafted book does not disappoint as it unravels the life and mysterious death of this beloved racehorse while revealing a darker side of greed and jealousy that surrounded him.

Filled with incredible black & white photos and memorabilia, this book will draw you in and keep you there. It will amaze you, it will disturb you but it will always remind you of the winning spirit and courageous heart that was Phar Lap. A name you will never forget...

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars I was dissapointed :-(, September 17, 2005

By 

Jermann Barbara (Switzerland) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Phar Lap (Paperback)

This is about the paperback edition.

I knew some about Phar Lap before I read the book. So when I found it, I was really thrilled to get to know more of this amazing horse's story.

Unfortunately, the writers seem to get lost in talk about odds, betting, backstage deals, dark figures of the turf and so forth, instead of telling us about Phar Lap himself, how his life was and how his races went. That is, I think it's interesting to get to know some about the dark sides of the sport and the betting and things. But I got the impression that the story about the horse faints to the background.

I never got the feeling of "having been there" while Phar Lap lived and raced. The writers never brought me close up to the horse, they didn't get me into the story.
Compared to Secretariat by Nack or Man O'War by Cooper and Treat, for instance, this book seems to lack the passion about its protagonist which is a real pity.

I did like the chapter about the analysis of Phar Lap's death, though. I felt relieved, as odd as it sounds, to get to know the possible reason of his death. I feel better now that I know why this great horse died and that there was nothing that could have been done for him given the absence of veterinarian knowlegde at the time about his disease. I also appreciated the end of the book, namely the chapter intitulated "By Night Raid out of Entreaty". This should have been the first chapter of the book because it tells us where this great horse Phar Lap came from.

I can't really recommend this book but am aware that someone like me who just wants to know more will still buy it. So be it, Phar Lap sure deserves it :-)

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pretty factual account of the life of Phar Lap and the time he lived in., June 1, 2006

By 

Carmel Dwyer (Australia) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Phar Lap (Hardcover)

This book was never written to be a novel it is meant to be factual history of Big Red and the race scene at the time and it shows our Australian Culture at the time of the Great Depression which is when the he raced, how desperate people were for money and also the snobbery that was part of the AJC and VRC in Australia. The photos were of particular interest as a lot of them haven't been seen by people who never saw him race (like myself).
The final listing of his all of the races he ran and amount of stakes money that he won in the Depresssion was also enlightening. The mind just boggles if he was alive and racing today with the prize money that is around.

The chapter that was devoted to his death finally explained to the world and particularly Australia what happened to this great horse and the sad fact that the veterinary practices at the time couldn't have saved him.

This book for me is a collectable and will be an heirloom. The picture on the front cover has been taken where he finally stands in the Melbourne Museum, where he is the most visited display in the Museum.