True Gambling Stories #004: Phar Lap – Big Wins, Mysteries & Assassins

Sean Chaffin Contributor

May 03, 2018

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The month of May brings big horse racing. The Triple Crown gets underway with the Kentucky Derby May 5 and there will be plenty of action. In the spirit of the "Sport of Kings," True Gambling Stories brings you a unique story from horse racing's past.

Phar Lap was one of Australia's greatest champions, but was surrounded with mystery. That includes an interesting assassination attempt before the nation's biggest races, and then a mysterious death in California that shocked the sports world.

This tale has plenty of action for gambling, history, sports, and horse racing buffs. As you study those horses to place those Derby bets, give this month's story a listen. Guests include Australia's Geoff Armstrong, who wrote two books about the horse and is an amazing storyteller. Also, historian and Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation President Ed Bowen, who offers plenty of insight into horse racing's history.

Phar Lap – Huge Wins, Mysteries, and Assassins Time Stamps

0:20	Intro
1:00	A bit of background on Episode #4
2:00	Horse racing & the Kentucky Derby
4:00	Australia – economy and horse racing
7:00	The history of horse racing
10:00	Racing in the colonies & the peasants start betting
13:30	Phar Lap's ready to race
15:30	Tommy & Phar Lap
17:30	Phar Lap's importance Down Under
19:00	The Kentucky Derby & the Melbourne Cup
22:00	Bang! Assassination attempt
24:00	Interview with an eyewitness to the shooting
26:30	Show or shot?
32:00	Handicap? No problem
33:00	Mexico bound
34:00	The most amazing performance by a racehorse
35:00	Mysterious death & controversy
39:30	Outro and credits

If you enjoyed the show, please give us a five-star review or recommend us on iTunes, Stitcher, TuneIn, or wherever you accessed the podcast. Please let friends know about the show. And if you missed the first episode, click here to listen.

You can also access the second episode by clicking here and the third episode here.

If you have an idea for a show, please let us know. Our website address is TrueGamblingStories.com and you can follow us on Facebook and Twitter. Follow host and writer Sean Chaffin on Twitter @PokerTraditions.

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