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One can only imagine how he would have fared as a sire had he not been gelded.
According to the autopsy he had a massive 14 lb (pound) heart, much larger than the average equine heart at 9 lbs.

Northern Dancer was a small horse, considering his racing history, he I suspect was gifted also with a massive heart.

Joe- If he hadn't been gelded, he'd have been too busy chasing fillies to accomplish anything.

There's a large heart gene that runs in thoroughbred maternal lines, carried on the X-chromosome. Secretariat inherited his massive heart from his dam Somethingroyal, and passed it on to his daughters - which helps answer the question of why some top racehorses are better sires of daughters than they are sons.

Heart beat audio

Kate, that is fascinating, never heard that before, and it will inspire some follow-up reading, thanks

Previously posted:

Very nice run by Seabiscuit.

I like Phar Lap as well

Phar Lap wins the Agua Caliente Handicap - 1932

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bROtR5ivyZw

But I will still take my grandfather's horse for battle tested:

Qui Si Sanne ~1916

a warhorse in the traditional sense, the rider credited his horse for saving the rider's life on more than several occasions while under fire.
But military horses don't get medals...but still have a few pics

Cheers

Hans-Christian Georg Rupprecht, Commander in Chief

1st Saint Nicolaas Army
Army Group “True North"

Posted by: Hans Rupprecht | January 4, 2010 4:16 AM

Great champion Phar Lap. So great that in 1930 prior to the Melbourne Cup criminals tried to shoot him but they missed. After winning the Agua Caliente Handicap he was moved to a private ranch near Menlo Park, California where he died early in the morning of April 5, 1932. Forensic investigations conducted in 2008 on hair samples from Phar Lap's mane indicate that it is almost certain he died from poisoning as he had ingested a large dose of arsenic 30 to 40 hours before his death.

Nobaody can hold a candle to Hoofhearted. Well, not in the cool name arena anyway.

They actually tested samples of the horse many years later, and found that he died of an infection. Arsenic was used in "tonics" at the time to enhance performance, so the discovery of arsenic wouldn't have been unusual.

Kate,
There are two theories on Phar Lap's death the poisoning by arsenic I mention and the gastro infection you mention. The thing about the arsenic poisoning theory is that the arsenic is thought most likely to have come from the "tonic" administered by his trainer and not by some shady characters who wanted to kill the horse. If you are curious check out the following link: http://www.abc.net.au/catalyst/forensics/

Thank you!

I love Phar Lap but never knew there was video of him available. It was great to see this marvelous athlete in action.