Phar Lap program collection auction for serious collectors
Author: Richard Brewster | Posted: 6th May, 2016
Although he won his last race 85 years ago before dying tragically from suspected poisoning, Phar Lap is still regarded as the most famous racehorse in Australian history.
Now, a unique collection of racing programs portraying much of Phar Lap’s racing career, will be auctioned from 9.30am Tuesday May 10 by Mossgreen at 926-930 High Street, Armadale.
The collection belongs to Californian Gary Madeiros who grew up near Menlo Park, where Phar Lap died, and was always fascinated by his story.
As a result, he has been collecting Phar lap memorabilia for 60 years. When Mossgreen sold the Phar Lap Yearling Sale Catalogue on Melbourne Cup Eve last year, it attracted worldwide publicity.
Gary heard about the sale and invited Mossgreen sporting memorabilia head Max Williamson to inspect his collection with a view to selling it on his behalf.
The 43-item collection includes programs of the many races Phar Lap won (37 wins, three seconds and two thirds from 51 starts) including the 1929 Victoria Derby, the 1930 Melbourne Cup and his last race – the Agua Caliente Handicap on March 20, 1931.
The auction also contains another icon in the 1949 Melbourne Cup. Begun in 1867, the Melbourne Cup has become the most prestigious horseracing prize in Australia and one of the glamour events of the horseracing world.
Owned by Leonard Robinson, Foxzami won the 1949 Melbourne Cup by three lengths from Hoyle and Benvola before a crowd of 110,000 people at Flemington.
Prize money was £9050 ($18,100) and after the race the cup was taken to Lord Howe Island.
Although the owner died in 1955, this prized possession remained there until 1979 when the estate was sold and the cup acquired by the present owner.
Other sections of the catalogue include a significant collection of Collingwood Football Club memorabilia including the earliest known club jumper, worn by Dick Condon, and offerings from cricket (such as Norm O’Neill’s baggy green Test cap), boxing, golf and various Olympic Games.
