The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-04-06

Red-eyed from lack of sleep and
from crying, the little group Of
horsemen who sat beside the blan-
ket-covered body in Pickering
lantern light al might long, was
still stunned by the loss of their
Bobby"
A sudden attack of acute indi-
gestion yesterday felled the giant
Sorre1 Gelding which crossed the
Pacific ocean to win the $4,000
Aqua Caliente handicap and cap
tivate the admiration fthe Amer
lean sporting public.
Grief Stricken
David j. Davis, co-owner of the
track monarch, arrived today by
airpiane from Los Angeles. He
entered the stable, lifted the blan-
ket and, as tears streamed down
his face, murmured, ''peor Bobby"
He dropped the blanket over the
horse which had won $332,250 for
him and his Australian partner,
and stumbled outside to his wife.
Davis was still too Supplied by
his loss to make any decision as to
disposal of the body. Friends sug-
gested that 1t be mounted ana
placed oa display at one of the
jockey clubs. He said he had
valued Bobby" as he was called
affectionately by the small retinue
of Australian horsemen, at $780,.
600, and that he was not insured.
1.-THE financial loss means moth
ing" Davis explained. I'VE never
regarded Bobby in the light of dol
lars and cents. He was prince
among horses, with almost human
intelligence. We almost Worship
ped him from the sporting angle
tionate SELF"
No Poison
DR. William Nielsen, the Austral-
ian veterinarian, quieted all rum
ors that Phar Lap had been pois-
oned. He said, There is not the
slightest suspicion of poisoning.
The autopsy last night showed
that acute Indigestion and infla-
nation of the stomach contributed
to his DEATH"
DR. Nielsen said a gastric disor-
der had been noticed sunday,
probably caused by nibbling fox
tail or damp alfalfa. And the dis
order was stimulated by eating
barley, purchased nearby Monday.
1t become serious too late for med
ical skill to save the racer.
As the turf world gardually re-
covered from its amazement at the
sudden passing of the greatest
money-winning Gelding in history,
cables and kilograms of condo
Ience began pouring in for Mr. and
Mrs Davis. Phar Lap stood next
90 KiIrnnr'C Slln
Beau as the geratest money-win-
ming horse of all time. And
special event at Tanforan track
nearby, had been arranged for this
month, at which Phar Lap, might
have established new record.
Long Trip
Davis said the 10,000-mile trip
from Australia and the changing OF
climatic conditions in the United
States might have weakened the
horses resistance. He arrived at
San Francisco from Down Under"
on January Is. After a brief rest
at Tanforan, he was taken to Aqua
Caiiente where he bested a field Oh
outstanding American stake horses
in the handicap.
Davis and Harry Telford of Aus
tralia bought the colossal horse In
the antipodes for $500.
HE was nameless when l pur-
chased him." Davis explained. We
debated a long time what we
should call him. Lightning
fitted him best. Finally someone
told me Phar Lap meant lightning
in Japanese and there we are"
Some Record
In 48 races, Phar Lap placed IN
all but nine. In those nine he car.
ried the heaviest impost Of l5O
pounds. During October and NO.
yember last year, he won eight
races out of nine starts. His great
stamina permitted him to win the
Melbourne cup at 2 miles; the fu,
turity stakes of z furlongs, and,
set an Australian record Of 2 min
utes, Q 1-2 seconds for the mile and
a quarter. within a period Of SIX
months. He was six years old.
Phar Lap had been scheduled
for an intensive track campaign in
the Middle West this summer. TO
be followed by a tour of English
fvo abe