Location: Phar Lap Raceway, Washdyke
Access: Check raceway access and event times
Associated years: First World War; memorial date to confirm
Associated people and animals: horses of the 8th South Canterbury Regiment, New Zealand Mounted Rifles, local mounted soldiers
Visit this memorial to remember the animals taken into war. Local collection records identify a plaque at Phar Lap Raceway, Washdyke, in memory of the horses of the 8th South Canterbury Regiment of the New Zealand Mounted Rifles that died during the First World War.
This is one of the most distinctive places in the wider Timaru war-history hunt. It adds the story of horses, mounted service, transport, rural identity and loss beyond human casualties.
For South Canterbury, this matters. The region had strong rural and horse traditions. Mounted service was part of how many New Zealanders understood military duty before and during the First World War.
Find a WuHoo: the memorial plaque and any wording that explains the horses, regiment and campaign.
Side Quest about Phar Lap
Phar Lap was a champion Thoroughbred racehorse whose achievements captured the Australian public's imagination during the early years of the Great Depression. Foaled in Timaru, he was trained and raced in Australia by Harry Telford. 1930 - 1932, Phar Lap won 32 of his 35 races. The first Melbourne Cup was run in 1861. Martini Henry was the first New Zealand-bred horse to win the race, in 1883. As of 2014, 41 New Zealand-bred horses have claimed victory in the great race.
Oct 4, 1926 Phar lap was born in Timaru, New Zealand. The name Phar Lap also stands for Lightning.
May 26, 1927 Phar Lap's training Starting from here Phap Lap was trained, he was trained very hard more than any other horse. Because when he came over from New Zealand he was very clumsy. The owner of Phar Lap had no hope in him, but bobby the trainer did, because of Phar Lap's family tree.
Jul 19, 1927 Listed for the Trentham sales and bought by Harry Telford
Dec 17, 1928 Phar Lap was officially registered as a racehorse in Sydney
Apr 27, 1929 Phar Lap has his first victory. On the 27th of April 1929, Phar Lap won his first race, the Maiden Juvenile Handicap at Rosehill near Sydney. It was an achievement that bobby the trainer was very pleased about.
Sep 5, 1929 Harry Telford employs Aaron Treve Woodcock (Tommy) as Phar Lap’s full-time strapper
Sep 14, 1929 Phar Lap started to make headlines and draw attention after winning the Chelmsford Stakes at Randwick
Nov 1, 1930 Phar Lap won Derby Day On the 1st of November 1930, was Derby Day. Once again Phar Lap won, by three lengths. After earlier that day Phar lap was a target for a shooter, and nearly got shot twice. But he still ran that afternoon in Derby Day at Flemington.
Nov 3, 1930 Phar Lap and Tommy were shot at a few days before the Melbourne Cup
Nov 4, 1930 Phar Lap won the Melbourne Cup3 On the 5th of November 1930, Phar Lap won the Melbourne cup with a weight of 6.9 pounds. he was against the odds and he still won, and he won very easily. The Melbourne cup goes for 3,200 meters.
Dec 21, 1931 After winning the Melbourne Cup, Phar Lap was taken to America to race against new competition for higher stakes
Nov 4, 1931 Phar Lap won the Melbourne Cup
Apr 1, 1932 Phar Lap wins his best race On the 1st of April 1932, Phar Lap won North Americas richest race, the Agua Caliente Handicap, with a weight of 6.8kg on his back, he was against the odds, but still got the win. On the way from Australia, Phar Lap hurt his foot and in the race it was bleeding. After he won the race he became on of the most well known race horses in the world.
Apr 5, 1932 Phar Lap died of suspected poisoning on the 5th April 1932
Apr 30, 1932 Phar Lap's heart was stuffed On the 30th of April 1932, Phar Lap's heart was stuffed and taken to the National Museum in Melbourne. It had a weight of 6.2 kilograms. That is roughly 50% larger than a normal racehorse's heart.