Media Release: SYNCHROTRON HELPS TO ANSWER PHAR LAP DEATH MYSTERY

FROM THE MINISTER FOR INNOVATION

DATE: Monday, October 23, 2006

SYNCHROTRON HELPS TO ANSWER PHAR LAP DEATH MYSTERY

Australia’s greatest racehorse, the mighty Phar Lap, may solve the mystery of his own death, the Minister for Innovation, John Brumby, said today.

At the time of his sudden death in San Francisco in 1932, many people claimed Phar Lap had been poisoned.

Mr Brumby said the world had long since wondered how Phar Lap had died with recent research using a synchrotron unearthing some interesting results into the 74 year old mystery.

“Preliminary research on six hairs taken from Phar Lap’s hide has revealed intriguing new insights into the final hours before his death,” Mr Brumby said.

“One of Australia’s foremost experts in forensic hair analysis, Dr Ivan Kempson, used a beamline at the Advanced Photon Source in Chicago to study heavy metals in the hairs.

“Dr Kempson’s results appear to show that Phar Lap may well have ingested a single large dose of arsenic between one and two days before he died.

“By using a synchrotron, Dr Kempson was able to distinguish between arsenic used in the preservation process and that which might have been ingested just before Phar Lap’s death.”

Mr Brumby said the Bracks Government was also providing a $20,000 grant to ensure the research into Phar Lap’s death continued.

“Dr Kempson’s intriguing results from his initial synchrotron analysis of heavy metals in Phar Lap’s hair raised too many questions to be ignored,” he said.

“It’s important that further research is now undertaken to compare the hair samples from Phar Lap with other horse hair samples to see if the same characteristics are present.

“Dr Kempson will work with Museum Victoria to answer the greatest riddle of Australia’s sporting history.”

Hairs used were sampled beneath Phar Lap’s mane, taking great care not to damage the Melbourne Museum’s best loved treasure, on permanent display due to public demand.

“We owe a debt of gratitude to Museum Victoria for their extraordinary co-operation in making the hairs available to aid the quest for the truth,” Mr Brumby said.

“As well as the winner of the 1930 Melbourne Cup, Phar Lap captured the hearts and imaginations of generations of Australians and racing enthusiasts around the world.

“And his marvelously preserved display is Melbourne Museum’s best love exhibit.”

Dr Kempson said that arsenic used as a preservation agent could have complicated his efforts to detect arsenic that might have been ingested by Phar Lap.

“Under synchrotron light the arsenic behaves differently and we’ve been able to discriminate between arsenic that appears to be from a lead-arsenate solution applied to the hide and arsenic that could have been digested by Phar Lap while he was alive and got into his hair through the bloodstream.” Dr Kempson said.

Mr Brumby said the project highlighted the unique research collaborations and types of research that will possible in Australia once the Australian Synchrotron opens in Melbourne next year.

“The Australian Synchrotron will be a major boost for our nation’s best and brightest scientists, enabling them to undertake high tech research, like Dr Kempson’s at an Australian facility,” he said.

“Forensic science is just one of the many fields that synchrotron science is transforming research and development advancing areas as diverse as textiles, drug development and manufacturing.

“The synchrotron will advance techniques used by Australian scientists enabling them to remain globally competitive and enhancing the nation’s ability to undertake leading edge science and innovative R&D.”

Intense synchrotron light makes it possible to study tiny samples in great detail to yield information about the composition, history or authenticity of a precious artifact.

The preliminary Phar Lap project was supported by the Commonwealth Government’s Australian Synchrotron Research Program (ASRP) which provides access to overseas synchrotrons.

The ongoing research to analyse further control samples will be supported by the Victorian Government’s Synchrotron Access Program. Access to the Advanced Photon Source has been arranged by ASRP.