Phar Lap was the shortest-priced favourite in Cup history, winning at 8-11 ($1.72) in 1930. The race was initially two miles long (approximately 3,218 meters), but once Australia adopted the metric system in the 1970s, the present distance of 3,200 meters was established in 1972. The favorite's price reflected the fact that there were no jockeys available to ride him because most had been hired by owners who expected their horses to win or at least place. Only one owner had brought a jockey from overseas: Englishman John Parker, who rode Phar Lap for the last time at age 31. Before that final race, however, he suffered a heart attack while riding another horse and died at the scene. Parker was the only foreign rider available for the Cup, which meant that Australian jockeys had to train and mount the horses themselves. Many of them were inexperienced and some were even children. One 12-year-old boy won three races during the season. In addition, most owners did not provide their horses with suitable training conditions or enough food during the season. As a result, many of them failed to meet their fitness requirements for the Cup and were withdrawn from the race. Phar Lap himself came close to being disqualified for health reasons.