| Sports Non-Fiction posted April 6, 2022 |
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Remembering a champion racehorse. (200 words)
Phar Lap's Heart
by LisaMay
Phar Lap, a famous racehorse, died on April 5th, 1932. I am not particularly interested in horse racing, but I have a special bond with Phar Lap.
Kids are fascinated by gross things: I saw his preserved heart on display in 1963 at the Institute of Anatomy in Canberra when I was ten years old. I was awed by the unusually large size of that organ, while being horrified at the thought of it being cut out of a magnificent animal.
In another twist of personal connection, Royal Canberra Hospital, in which I was born, was demolished in 1997 to make way for construction of the National Museum of Australia, where Phar Lap’s heart is now displayed.
The racehorse’s ability made him an Australian and New Zealand legend, a Depression-era hero with a phenomenal series of wins. He was bred in New Zealand, not far from where I now live. The National Museum in Wellington displays his skeleton.
Following success ‘Downunder’, he was taken to North America where, at his first start, he won the rich Agua Caliente Handicap in Mexico in record time. Distressingly, two weeks later he died in California in mysterious circumstances. Some say he was poisoned.
200 Word Story writing prompt entry
Phar Lap, a famous racehorse, died on April 5th, 1932. I am not particularly interested in horse racing, but I have a special bond with Phar Lap.
Kids are fascinated by gross things: I saw his preserved heart on display in 1963 at the Institute of Anatomy in Canberra when I was ten years old. I was awed by the unusually large size of that organ, while being horrified at the thought of it being cut out of a magnificent animal.
In another twist of personal connection, Royal Canberra Hospital, in which I was born, was demolished in 1997 to make way for construction of the National Museum of Australia, where Phar Lap’s heart is now displayed.
The racehorse’s ability made him an Australian and New Zealand legend, a Depression-era hero with a phenomenal series of wins. He was bred in New Zealand, not far from where I now live. The National Museum in Wellington displays his skeleton.
Following success ‘Downunder’, he was taken to North America where, at his first start, he won the rich Agua Caliente Handicap in Mexico in record time. Distressingly, two weeks later he died in California in mysterious circumstances. Some say he was poisoned.
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Writing Prompt Write a story of 200 words. not including the title. Any subject accepted. Must be exactly 200 words. |
Author Note:
The Agua Caliente Handicap is a defunct thoroughbred horse race that was once the premier event at Agua Caliente Racetrack in Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico, and the richest race in North America. Some say gangsters were involved in Phar Lap's demise, as he posed a threat to their high stakes gambling set-ups.
Even today, Phar Lap's massive heart attracts viewers. It weighs almost 14 pounds (about twice as big as an average horse's heart) and is the exhibit most often asked about at the National Museum of Australia. It has become a national icon, and inspired the phrase: ''a heart as big as Phar Lap's'', alluding to strength, staying power, nobility and endurance.
Story is 200 words according to www.wordcounter.net
Pays
one point
and 2 member cents. The Agua Caliente Handicap is a defunct thoroughbred horse race that was once the premier event at Agua Caliente Racetrack in Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico, and the richest race in North America. Some say gangsters were involved in Phar Lap's demise, as he posed a threat to their high stakes gambling set-ups.
Even today, Phar Lap's massive heart attracts viewers. It weighs almost 14 pounds (about twice as big as an average horse's heart) and is the exhibit most often asked about at the National Museum of Australia. It has become a national icon, and inspired the phrase: ''a heart as big as Phar Lap's'', alluding to strength, staying power, nobility and endurance.
Story is 200 words according to www.wordcounter.net
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