Phar Lap died of arsenic poisoning

Ray · 06-19-2008, 07:04 PM

from YAHOO!
Jun 19, 12:20 am EDT

Buzz Up PrintMELBOURNE, Australia (AP)—Forensic scientists say champion Australian gelding Phar Lap died of arsenic poisoning, solving a mystery that has intrigued the horse racing world for more than 75 years.

Phar Lap won 37 of his 51 starts before his death in mysterious circumstances at Menlo Park in California in April 1932. Days before his death, he won Mexico’s Agua Caliente Handicap, which was then the richest horse race in North America.

Arsenic poisoning has long been suspected as the cause of Phar Lap’s death, but confirmation had been lacking until Thursday when researchers Dr. Ivan Kempson of the University of South Australia and Dermot Henry, manager of Natural Science Collections at Museum Victoria, released the findings of their forensic investigation.

Kempson took six hairs from Phar Lap’s mane and analyzed them at the Advanced Photon Source Synchrotron in Chicago, finding that in the 40 hours before Phar Lap’s death the horse had ingested a massive dose of arsenic.

Phar Lap’s mounted hide is on display at the Melbourne Museum, while his heart is kept at the National Museum of Australia in Canberra.

“We can’t speculate where the arsenic came from, but it was easily accessible at the time,” Henry said.

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.

Masterquick · 06-19-2008, 07:13 PM

I think he knew Lee Harvey Oswald and Jack Ruby also.

JimmyQ · 06-19-2008, 07:35 PM

Maybe this old bag did it, sounds like she did the same to her late husband

Son wonders if dad's wife poisoned him - CNN.com

JimmyQ

cre8flow · 06-20-2008, 07:13 AM

another stable boy who didnt know what he was doing

sounds a little like deep impact

instead they blames americans for killing him

deeb · 06-20-2008, 08:57 AM

Horse tonics back then ( juice ! ) had small amounts of arsenic and strychnine, both of which are poisinous and toxic . Humans can build up a tolernace to arsenic by gradually increasing the amount ingested. Don't know if it was for worms or digestion problems

Strychnine used to be in rodent poison. Arsenic was one of the chemical Paul Ehrlich used to kill the syphillis germ. After 600 -plus tries he got it right.

Don't know if Tommy was careless . He claimed that the horse had been given "tonics " for a while. The movie showed that he cared deeply for the horse and Phar Lap thrived under his care.

Running in a new country ( dirt track ) and new surroundings may have weakened him enough to let a overdose have more effect.

The Aussies still blame the Yanks for this !

Woodcock became a sucessful trainer .

cre8flow · 06-20-2008, 10:35 AM

who couldnt

hilarious

phar lap site says trainer was down on his luck and poured through the breeding lines

2 funny

how many other stories like this out there??????????????????????

cre8flow · 06-20-2008, 10:58 AM

your are forgetting some

Strychnine, cocaine, arsenic: breakfast of champions - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Switchin Sticks · 06-20-2008, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deeb

Horse tonics back then ( juice ! ) had small amounts of arsenic and strychnine, both of which are poisinous and toxic . Humans can build up a tolernace to arsenic by gradually increasing the amount ingested. Don't know if it was for worms or digestion problems

Strychnine used to be in rodent poison. Arsenic was one of the chemical Paul Ehrlich used to kill the syphillis germ. After 600 -plus tries he got it right.

Don't know if Tommy was careless . He claimed that the horse had been given "tonics " for a while. The movie showed that he cared deeply for the horse and Phar Lap thrived under his care.

Running in a new country ( dirt track ) and new surroundings may have weakened him enough to let a overdose have more effect.

The Aussies still blame the Yanks for this !

Woodcock became a sucessful trainer .

Arsenic was and still is used to get horses to eat , of course with things like Winstrol its use is not as common anymore but it might be again.

deeb · 06-20-2008, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cre8flow

who couldnt

hilarious

phar lap site says trainer was down on his luck and poured through the breeding lines

2 funny

how many other stories like this out there??????????????????????

Nota Bene:

Harry Telford was the trainer of record for Phar Lap. He spent a bunch of money to get good young stock but they didn't pan out. Tommy Woodcock ( great name ! ) was the strapper ( groom ) for the horse,

Finding arsenic doesn't tell the source ( tonic or pesticde, ) Organic arsinates ( pesticides ) could have been more toxic.

Thought they originally thought he had bad feed -- could have been contaminated with some potent pesticde.

cre8flow · 06-20-2008, 04:22 PM

okay..

i will say it again

how many other stories are there out there..

note-lukas to pletcher

06-19-2008, 07:04 PM	#1 (permalink)
Ray Status: Grade II Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 1,347	Phar Lap died of arsenic poisoning from YAHOO! Jun 19, 12:20 am EDT Buzz Up PrintMELBOURNE, Australia (AP)—Forensic scientists say champion Australian gelding Phar Lap died of arsenic poisoning, solving a mystery that has intrigued the horse racing world for more than 75 years. Phar Lap won 37 of his 51 starts before his death in mysterious circumstances at Menlo Park in California in April 1932. Days before his death, he won Mexico’s Agua Caliente Handicap, which was then the richest horse race in North America. Arsenic poisoning has long been suspected as the cause of Phar Lap’s death, but confirmation had been lacking until Thursday when researchers Dr. Ivan Kempson of the University of South Australia and Dermot Henry, manager of Natural Science Collections at Museum Victoria, released the findings of their forensic investigation. Kempson took six hairs from Phar Lap’s mane and analyzed them at the Advanced Photon Source Synchrotron in Chicago, finding that in the 40 hours before Phar Lap’s death the horse had ingested a massive dose of arsenic. Phar Lap’s mounted hide is on display at the Melbourne Museum, while his heart is kept at the National Museum of Australia in Canberra. “We can’t speculate where the arsenic came from, but it was easily accessible at the time,” Henry said. 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.

06-20-2008, 08:57 AM	#5 (permalink)
deeb Status: Grade III Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 647	Horse tonics back then ( juice ! ) had small amounts of arsenic and strychnine, both of which are poisinous and toxic . Humans can build up a tolernace to arsenic by gradually increasing the amount ingested. Don't know if it was for worms or digestion problems Strychnine used to be in rodent poison. Arsenic was one of the chemical Paul Ehrlich used to kill the syphillis germ. After 600 -plus tries he got it right. Don't know if Tommy was careless . He claimed that the horse had been given "tonics " for a while. The movie showed that he cared deeply for the horse and Phar Lap thrived under his care. Running in a new country ( dirt track ) and new surroundings may have weakened him enough to let a overdose have more effect. The Aussies still blame the Yanks for this ! Woodcock became a sucessful trainer . __________________ WIN ??.. I said "PLACE.. PLACE on Lucky Dan. That horse is going to run second ! Kid Twist ( Harold Gould ) to Doyle Lonigan ( Robert Shaw ) in " The Sting "

06-19-2008, 07:13 PM	#2 (permalink)
Masterquick Status: Hall of Famer Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: The Delta Posts: 22,698	I think he knew Lee Harvey Oswald and Jack Ruby also.

06-19-2008, 07:35 PM	#3 (permalink)
JimmyQ Status: Grade I Join Date: May 2006 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 2,217	Maybe this old bag did it, sounds like she did the same to her late husband Son wonders if dad's wife poisoned him - CNN.com JimmyQ

06-20-2008, 07:13 AM	#4 (permalink)
cre8flow Status: Hall of Famer Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 10,713	another stable boy who didnt know what he was doing sounds a little like deep impact instead they blames americans for killing him

06-20-2008, 10:35 AM	#6 (permalink)
cre8flow Status: Hall of Famer Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 10,713	who couldnt hilarious phar lap site says trainer was down on his luck and poured through the breeding lines 2 funny how many other stories like this out there??????????????????????

06-20-2008, 10:58 AM	#7 (permalink)
cre8flow Status: Hall of Famer Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 10,713	your are forgetting some Strychnine, cocaine, arsenic: breakfast of champions - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

06-20-2008, 04:22 PM	#10 (permalink)
cre8flow Status: Hall of Famer Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 10,713	okay.. i will say it again how many other stories are there out there.. note-lukas to pletcher