Phar Lap (Hardcover)

by Geoff Armstrong (Author), Peter Thompson (Author) "On 6 April 1932, the Prime Minister of Australia, Joseph Lyons, was in a very happy and contented mood..." (more)
Key Phrases: mounting yard, cap barrier, betting ring, Melbourne Cup, Harry Telford, Agua Caliente (more...)

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

Product Description
A chronicle of the impact of a much loved and much lauded horse racing icon, this is a complete account of Phar Lap's life. It details the many mysteries of his career, from his purchase as a gangly gelding bought cheaply in New Zealand to the infamous shooting that occurred just days before his great triumph in the 1930 Melbourne Cup and his previously unexplained death in North America. Bringing to life the characters of the racetrack, this book also examines the way media played a part in building the legend. Beautifully presented with archival photographs, newspaper articles, and racing memorabilia, this is a handsome commemorative of one of the best race horses there ever was.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Allen & Unwin Pty., Limited (Australia) (April 1, 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: 3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,103,760 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 21 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 (REAL NAME)

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...

7 of 7 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 (REAL NAME)

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 :-)

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pharlap - One of a kind., September 30, 2001

By	Roger "iouthis" - See all my reviews

What a wonderful book - great photos and narrative. It fully explained what was probably the reason for his untimely death. This book will someday be a collector's item, but I won't part with it!