A brief stopover: Phar Lap’s unexpected stay in Albury
Before claiming victory in the 1930 Melbourne Cup, the celebrated racehorse Phar Lap enjoyed an unplanned respite in the border town of Albury. In October 1930, as anticipation for the Spring Carnival grew, the Harry Telford-trained horse and his strapper, Tommy Woodcock, found themselves temporarily lodging at Sodens Hotel, a popular establishment within racing circles.
Due to the rail gauge difference between New South Wales and Victoria, horses traveling by train from Sydney to Melbourne were required to disembark, cross the platform, and board a different train. This practice, standard for over a century until the completion of a standard-gauge connection in 1962, led to Phar Lap’s unexpected Albury stopover.
Woodcock later recounted the experience to family friend Wayne Hinchliffe, describing how he slept among the hay and straw in the stables. Remarkably, despite the horse’s fame, Woodcock noted that no one recognized Phar Lap during their stay. “Not one person ever pulled him up and asked him what the name of his horse was,” Hinchcliffe recalled.
Woodcock also shared a humorous anecdote about the horse’s strength, stating, “He did say they walked so much he wore out a pair of boots and two shirts from where the horse used to push him on the right-hand shoulder.” A telegram from Phar Lap’s connections instructed Woodcock to remain in Albury, extending their stay.
This delay strategically prevented Phar Lap from participating in the Caulfield Cup, allowing another horse, Amounis, to secure a win with favorable odds. Sodens Hotel has a long history of hosting Melbourne Cup-winning horses, including Prince Foote, Piastri, Windbag, Statesman, Peter Pan, Hiraji, Foxzami, and Delta.
Today, the pub celebrates this legacy with a bar displaying photographs and memorabilia. A plaque highlights Sodens’ pioneering use of electric lights in its stables, a significant safety improvement over the previously used open flames. Wayne Hinchliffe, who learned horsemanship from Woodcock, fondly remembers their close relationship and the stories of Phar Lap shared during Woodcock’s later years living on his family farm in Yarrawonga, where he passed away in 1985.
Phar Lap’s 1930 Melbourne Cup victory cemented his place in Australian history. The exceptionally large horse, known for his big heart, won 37 of 51 races, including the prestigious Agua Caliente Handicap in 1932, before tragically dying from arsenic poisoning shortly after.
Source
“When Phar Lap stopped over in Albury before the 1930 Melbourne Cup”
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