Phar Lap vs Seabiscuit!!!!!!!!! !!!!!! - Phar Lap (1984) Discussion

[–] thedoorman 19 years ago

Phar Lap easily. A good big horse will always beat a good small horse.

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[–] 19 years ago

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[–] sundae_mourning 19 years ago

War Admiral was the same size as Seabiscuit, despite what the movie would lead you to believe.

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[–] Jennifer-holt 19 years ago

Pharlap would win as you have to remember that he had a handicap on 10 stone,inthe end without the handicap, he would win hands down as seabiscuit did not have any handicaps on him

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[–] BerniceBattams 18 years ago

It's stupid the amount of weight they put on Phar Lap.
I have no idea who would win they were both before my time.
It's a shame that Phar Lap was murdered, It's awful to think that there was people like that way back then.

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[–] MichaelSkupinswinsSurvivor25 18 years ago

Neither they are both dead

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[–] lady_merrinda 18 years ago

I believe that Phar Lap would win. Did you know they did an autopsy on Phar Lap after he died and they claimed his heart was twice the size of a normal horses heart which explains his ability to race so well!

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[–] MaraudersFan 18 years ago

I'd say Phar lap, that is a match race that would be amazine to see, but since both are up in Heaven, not to mentioned i think they were from diffrent generations were they not

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[–] lv_Ramsays 18 years ago

Ever hear of Secretariat?? his heart was over 24lbs when he died.

And btw.. it's War admirable was 17hh.. a *beep* tin bigger than the 'Biscuit.

And Seabiscuit woulda beat Pharlap hands down. That horse'd never had any real competition.. same as the Admiral. And when a horse is given a bit of a hard time.. many crack. And Seabiscuit hand more heart, and was definantly handicapped.. he often gave more than 20lbs to his competitors and still beat them. Not to mention he was also ridden by a half blind Jockey.. not the country's best.

It's a good thing they never raced. Seabiscuit was well known for taunting his competitors.. and breaking their spirits. Rendering them useless for racing.

Seabiscuit is more game and had more grit.

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[–] jason-lang 18 years ago

Secretariat was a great, great horse, but to say Seabiscuit would beat Phar Lap "hands down" is just wrong.

it is pretty much impossible to compare horses of different generations let alone from differnt countries, but here are some things to consider regarding Phar Lap:

He won his first and only start in North Amercia in the Augua Calliente carrying top weight of 129lbs. He gave the next best weighted horse 9lbs and the bottom weight (who ran 4th) 39lbs. In winning he also created a new track record.

One of Phar lap's most memorable handicap wins was the 1930 Melbourne Cup carrying top weight of 138lbs. He gave the seond horse 14lbs and the bottom weight 40lbs. During that years carnival he strung together 4 wins over 8 days winning a 10f race followed by the 2 mile Melbourne Cup 3 days later. Two days after the Melbourne Cup he won over 1 mile with his final win of the carnival coming 2 days later over 12f.

Phar Lap's biggest winning weight was 143lbs (at Weight-for-age). In the Melbourne Cup of 1931, he was handicapped to carry 150lbs and finished 8th. The winner carried 96lbs. Of the other 6 who finished in front of him, they all conceeded Phar Lap at least 25lbs. Phar Lap came out and thumped North America's best at his next start.

Phar Lap raced 51 times for 37 wins, 3 seconds and 2 3rds. Seabiscuit raced 89 times for 33 wins 15 2nds and 13 3rds.

Seabicuit was a great horse, but I'd be putting my money on Phar Lap.

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[–] thedoorman 18 years ago

If Pharlap won all those races today with today's adjusted figures, he would have won over $50,000,000 in prize money. No other horse in history can boast that.

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[–] sharla-6 18 years ago

pharlap would win, not to take anything away from seabiscuit as he was a champion in his own right but pharlap had huge weights would race 4 times in a week with colds and other ilnesses and still win against the best horses in australia but in saying that it is unfair to compare horses from different generations, recently i saw a report saying that although pharlap is the best racehorse if he had have raced modern day champions(in australia) like makybe diva he would have been beaten so no one will ever really know

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[–] BallsJr 18 years ago

Spot on! You can't truly compare horses of different eras. It's like comparing different Formula 1 drivers...or any sports person for that matter! Conditions, era, methods and mechanics play a vital part. And don't forget that, just like cars, racehorses are 'driven' so the jockeys play an important part too...

But anyway, speaking from an Australian historical perspective, I think a more relevant question would be to ask who would win between Phar Lap and Tulloch. They are arguably Australia's best ever racehorses and the question of who was better will long be debated. Who can say! Then, throw into the discussion a 3/4YO Kingston Town, 4/5YO Sunline, 5/6YO Makybe Diva and a 6/7YO Bernborough, and it all becomes truly....impenetrable!

A champion is a champion...is a champion!

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[–] thedoorman 17 years ago

Phar Lap and Seabiscuit were from the similar era. But of course you can't compare Phar Lap with Makybe Diva. Phar Lap wouldn't even beat the mid week donkeys in the current era. With the advancement of medicine and technology the horses will keep getting faster and faster.

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[–] roogirl4 17 years ago

Phar Lap would leave Seabiscuit in the dust! With weights, illnesses, a trainer who exhausted him and then having an attempt made on his life, Phar Lap showed them all! What a legend!

The original and the best!

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[–] lv_Ramsays 17 years ago

wieghts?? Seabiscuit was always carrying heavy weights! often near 130lbs+!

exhaustion? Seabiscuit was raced several times a week when just a baby.

And gangsters did actually make a play on Seabisbuit, it just wasnt in the movie. Only the Book. The trainers ended up having to have 2security gaurds infront of the Biscuits stall at all times, along with a dog in his stall.

injury.. Seabisuit had a crooked leg, ended up blowing it out, then still came back to win the richest race of the time.

Seabiscuit was consistently breaking record times.

I see similarities, but no comparison.

'Happiness. It made the whole dying thing pretty bearable.'

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[–] buyorsell888 17 years ago

I have read a quote more than once by a famous race horse trainer who saw Man O'War, Seabiscuit and Secretariat race who stated that Phar Lap was the best ever foaled.

Can't remember who it was at the moment but I'll find it. He was asked who was better, Man O' War or Secretariat and his answer was neither, I saw Phar Lap.

BTW, Seabiscuit and War Admiral were both small horses.

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[–] khyland 17 years ago

Phar Lap and Seabiscuit did share something - a saddle!

From http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2003/s883657.htm

[Phar Lap's jockey at Agua Caliente, Billy Eliot] had been devastated by Phar Lap's mysterious death, gave his saddle to George Woolf as a gesture of friendship.

Woolf went on to become one of America's greatest riders, using the saddle on his favourite mount, Seabiscuit, who, like Phar Lap, captivated a nation in the midst of the depression. The saddle was Woolf's lucky charm.

From that date on until the time of his death he used it. Coincidentally, it was the only time he did not use it, from the time when Elliot gifted it to Woolf, was in his last race which he, unfortunately, was killed in.

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[–] jblum315-733-998513 12 years ago

I would dearly love to see this film again. Saw it once years ago. Why can't we get it on Netflix??