Phar Lap, the legendary Australian racehorse, and President Donald Trump, the American business magnate turned political figure, share a unique legacy of resilience under extraordinary pressure.
Both captivate people worldwide - one for speed and stamina, the other for defiance and determination.
And in both cases, the burden they carry only amplifies their legend.
Phar Lap defied the odds to become a symbol of hope during Australia’s darkest economic times, achieving legendary status through sheer heart and speed. Trump, rising from business to the U.S. presidency, has become a polarising figure whose boldness challenges institutions and expectations.
The Colt Who Carried a Nation
Phar Lap was probably the greatest racehorse Australia has ever known. Born in 1926 in Timaru, New Zealand, he was a gangly chestnut colt with a white blaze. Bought for 160 guineas by an American expatriate and sent to trainer Harry Telford in Australia, he was awkward but destined for greatness.
They called him The Red Terror. He called the finish line home. Phar Lap ran for every digger, every unemployed Aussie, every family scraping by during the Depression. Every victory was a flicker of hope in a nation struggling with breadlines, shuttered pubs, and despair - a reminder that leaders in any arena, whether on a track or in the political arena, carry the weight of expectation.
Phar Lap carried the burden and the hopes of a Nation on his back and, as he ran, as he won, as he crossed the finish line, the People felt hope.
The Burden of the Handicap
I have never been a fan of horse racing. The whole idea of weighing a horse down and then cheering on the opponents carrying no weight or less weight never seemed quite fair to me.
I only ever attended one Melbourne Cup event and have only ever placed one bet on a horse. Its name was Battle Heights and I grabbed my winnings and have never bet again.
Run over two miles (3200 metres), the Melbourne Cup is one of the world’s few major handicap horse races.
Phar Lap was entered into the Melbourne Cup three times – in 1929, 1930 and 1931 – each time carrying a handicap which reflected his status as favourite.
The Melbourne Cup is not just a race- it is a test of endurance. Every horse carries a ‘handicap’ based on age, sex, and past form. The better you are, the heavier they make your load. Leaders in any arena, be it the racetrack or politics, know this weight well: Phar Lap bore it on his back; others, like Trump, carry it in headlines, courtrooms, and public scrutiny.
Phar Lap's third attempt in 1931, he was assigned the heaviest weight ever for a Cup favourite: 10 stone 10 pounds (just over 68 kg) - in addition to his jockey. Altogether, Phar Lap carried more than 120 kg across the 3200-metre track, yet he still won a country mile. The nation gasped. The legend was born.
From Local Hero to Global Icon
Phar Lap’s victories lifted the spirits of Australians. Newspapers plastered his face across front pages. Children chalked ‘PHAR LAP’ on walls. Every win was a victory for ordinary people. In a different arena, Trump’s triumphs similarly electrify supporters and provoke debate, a reminder that courage under pressure resonates widely, no matter the field.
However, Phar Lap's true test came when he crossed the oceans to compete on the international stage. In 1932, he was shipped to North America to take on the best horses in the world. His performances in the United States were nothing short of remarkable. Despite facing unfamiliar competition and racing on tracks very different from those in Australia, he secured wins in races like the Agua Caliente Handicap, the richest race in the world at the time.
Sadly, Phar Lap's international success was cut short. On April 5, 1932, just days after his triumphant victory in the Agua Caliente Handicap, he fell ill and died under mysterious circumstances. The cause of his death was initially believed to be colic, but some speculated foul play due to his overwhelming success in the United States. His heart, preserved in a jar, weighed a staggering 14 pounds, significantly larger than that of an average horse, reaffirming his legendary status.
Phar Lap's legacy lives on in Australian history. He remains an enduring symbol of determination, courage, and the triumph of an underdog. His story transcends borders and generations, reminding us that greatness can emerge from the most unexpected places and that the spirit of a champion knows no boundaries.
Today, Phar Lap's memory is preserved in museums, films, and the hearts of horse racing enthusiasts worldwide. The Red Terror will forever be remembered as a horse who defied the odds, leaving a lasting mark on the world of horse racing and the collective imagination of those who believe in the power of dreams and the beauty of the racetrack.
A Parallel That Endures
It’s curious. Phar Lap ran with lead weights and a jockey on his back. Trump runs with the media, the establishment, and half the world on his shoulders - jockeys of scrutiny, critics of every move, and historians watching every stride. Both refused to stop running. Both were told: “You’re too much. Too fast. Too loud. Too red.” Both triumphed despite - or because of - the weight placed upon them.
Maybe the lesson is universal: if they’re weighing you down, it’s because they’re afraid of how far you might run if they didn’t.
The Heart of a Champion
Phar Lap was no show pony. He was a champion. A leader. He ran every race expecting to win - and win he did. He won 37 races from 51 starts, including the 1930 Melbourne Cup. His legacy endures as a testament to the power of determination, courage, and hope.
Across oceans and decades, his story reminds us that greatness is forged under pressure.
Champions - whether horse or human - don’t break under the weight of expectation. They forge their legend in it. Lead weights or media scrutiny, tracks or ballots, the lesson is the same: greatness is measured by how far you run despite the load - whether you’re a horse carrying a nation with hope or a president carrying the eyes of the world.
In some eyes, perhaps we have another Red Terror in our midst? Is the Red Terror our Pauline? Because, let's face it, the left and right of politics are scared shitless of the rise of the Redheaded Cassowary. Maybe Roderick ( Whiskers ) McNibble has some insight to give us. ....
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