2026 Lunar Year of the Horse - new Phar Lap exhibition at Melbourne Museum

"TODAY I visited Phar lap. Despite not being involved in the racing industry nor a real horse owner
I have always been fascinated by the big boy. I have an extensive varied Phar Lap collection
including older souvenirs from the museum and merchandise that ties in with the 1980s movie. I am proud
that we in Victoria are custodians of him (his mounted hide) but also respectfully acknowledge his NZ origins.

In fact top of the list of my visit to New Zealand was to visit the statues of Phar Lap at Seadown and the Phar Lap raceway at Washdyke near Timaru.
I have not seen his skeleton at Te Papa (Wellington) but have seen his big heart in Canberra. As someone recently said, Phar Lap is a trans-tasman icon.

Today I got to sit near Phar Lap and take it all in (after a big group of school children had left). I stayed for quite a while, spoke softy to him
and said hello on behalf of those that could not be there. Happy Year of the Horse, Phar Lap. And Happy 100 years this year!" visited 23 February 2026