Phar Lap (1983)

The true story of a Australian racehorse that becomes a champion with the help of a local stableboy.

Director:

Simon Wincer

Writer:

David Williamson

Stars:

Tom Burlinson, Richard Morgan, Robert Grubb

4 wins & 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Tom Burlinson	...	Tommy Woodcock
Richard Morgan	...	'Cashy' Martin
Robert Grubb	...	William Nielsen
Simon Wells	...	Newsboy
Kelvyn Worth	...	Newsboy
Justin Ridley	...	Newsboy
Martin Vaughan	...	Harry Telford
Brian Granrott	...	Reporter
Celia De Burgh	...	Vi Telford
Steven Bannister	...	Cappy Telford (Younger)
Richard Terrill	...	Cappy Telford (Older)
Ron Leibman	...	Dave Davis
Ross O'Donovan	...	Strapper
Ashley Grenville	...	Strapper
Les Foxcroft	...	Brazier Man

Storyline

Phar Lap, the legendary Australian racing horse, is as well-known today for his mysterious death as for his fabulous accomplishments in life. Beginning at the end, the film flashes back to the day that Phar Lap, despite his lack of pedigree, is purchased on impulse by trainer Harry Telford. Phar Lap loses his first races, but Telford's faith in the animal is unshakable. Suddenly the horse becomes a winner, thanks to the love and diligence of stableboy Tommy Woodcock. American-promoter Dave Davis arranges for Phar Lap to be entered in several top races, where his "long shot" status results in heavy losses for the professional gamblers. Just after winning an important race in Mexico, Phar Lap collapses and dies; though the film never comes out and says as much, it is assumed that the horse was "murdered" by the gambling interests.

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Plot Keywords:

horse | stableboy | racing | winner | animal | 

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Taglines:

Hero To A Nation

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | Family | History | Sport

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

Australia

Language:

English

Release Date:

13 April 1984 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Horse Called Phar Lap

Filming Locations:

Centennial Park, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Company Credits

Production Co:

Michael Edgley International, Phar Lap Management, Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

107 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Phar Lap won 37 races (out of 51). His record included sequences of nine, fourteen, and eight wins. In an amazing burst as a three year-old, Phar Lap won the Rosehill Guineas, A.J.C. Derby and Craven Plate, and V.R.C. Derby before being beaten into third place in the 1929 Melbourne Cup. As the weights he was asked to carry rose, he tended to be entered in weight-for-age events where the weights are fixed depending upon the horse's age.

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Connections

Referenced in Animaniacs: You Risk Your Life/I Got Yer Can/Jockey for Position (1993)

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Soundtracks

"There's a Rainbow 'Round My Shoulder"
(uncredited)
Music by Dave Dreyer
Lyrics by Al Jolson and Billy Rose

User Reviews

Great Flick!

For ANYone out there who is: A) an avid horse racing fan B) loves remarkable stories

or C) doesn't need an "all-star" cast to recognize a great film/story.

Phar Lap is great. Find out what happens to a sport when a freak of nature comes on the scene and creates a world-wide panic. From simple fans, horse & animal lovers, politicians and even the mafia. A story that will touch and amaze you in ways you never dreamed possible. See the lengths man would go to get "even" the playing field. Then watch as this thoroughbred smashes the measures taken. If you thought "Old Yeller" was great (and it was), this movie should knock your socks off. It's an amazing true story that MUST be seen to be believed. Forget "Black Stallion" and the rest. Phar Lap is FANtastic!!