100 years of Phar Lap: racing legend’s legacy cast in bronze

Marking 100 years since the birth of Phar Lap, Museums Victoria’s most popular specimen is being explored anew through legacy, memory and craftsmanship.

Releasing today exclusively at Museums Victoria Store is a limited edition of just 10 handcrafted bronze horseshoes, each individually cast and manufactured in Melbourne using the traditional lost-wax casting process.

The unique process captures extraordinary surface detail, faithfully reproducing every groove, mark and subtle imperfection of the original horseshoe worn by Phar Lap during the Agua Caliente Handicap in Mexico in 1932 - his last race before his death on April 5, 1932.

Born in New Zealand on 4 October 1926, Phar Lap rose to fame in Australia during the Great Depression, becoming a symbol of hope, resilience and determination at a time when the country was facing extraordinary hardship. 

More than 90 years since he first went on display, ‘Big Red’s’ preserved hide remains one of the most recognisable and significant specimens in the Museums Victoria collection.  

The legendary racehorse would've turned 100 years old on Sunday 4 October 2026. To commemorate this centenary milestone, the iconic Phar Lap exhibition was refreshed earlier this year. The revamp includes never-before-seen and rarely displayed objects. 

The 10 Editions have been hand-crafted in Melbourne by a team of artisans from Meridian Sculpture. Artist Darien Pullen, who was critical to the moulding process of the horseshoe, worked alongside renowned sculptor Peter Corlett in 1988 to create the iconic bronze Phar Lap statue, now on display at Flemington Racecourse. The Edition marks a fitting return to the subject that helped hone his practice from the beginning. 

Using the traditional lost-wax technique, an exact wax model of Phar Lap's horseshoe was encased in a mould. The wax was burned away and replaced with molten silicon bronze to capture every fine detail of the original horseshoe. Because the wax is ‘lost’ during the model casting, each Horseshoe Edition has been individually created rather than mass produced. 

As Melbourne Museum marks 100 years since Phar Lap's birth, the Phar Lap Bronze-cast Horseshoe demonstrates how museum objects can be reimagined for new audiences, carrying the unique stories and details of Museums Victoria’s collection forward for a new generation of visitors.  

Phar Lap can be seen daily on the upper level of Melbourne Museum within the Melbourne Gallery. The Phar Lap Bronze-cast Horseshoe, along with other Phar Lap-inspired products and mementos, are available for purchase on-site at Melbourne Museum Store or online at Museums Victoria Store.  

Proceeds from the sale of the Phar Lap Bronze-cast Horseshoe will go towards the Museums Victoria Foundation to secure the long-term future of our collections, research and programs.  

Quotes attributable to Lynley Crosswell, CEO and Director, Museums Victoria

‘Phar Lap is one of the most recognised and beloved specimens in the Museums Victoria collection and Sunday 4 October marks 100 years since his birth.’ 

‘Earlier this year, we refreshed our much-loved Phar Lap display to celebrate this centenary milestone and ensure visitors from across Australia and around the world can continue to connect with his story.’

‘The Phar Lap Bronze-cast Horseshoe by Museums Victoria Store is an example of how our collections and specimens inspire contemporary reimagination, keeping Phar Lap's legacy alive for years to come.’

Phar Lap Exhibition 

Phar Lap access is included with museum entry. Objects from his life – his training saddle, his shoes, his tonic book – help tell the story of Australia's wonder horse. 

Open 9am to 5pm, daily 

Adult $18 
Senior $12 
Child 16 Years & Under Free 
Members Free 

Phar Lap Bronze-cast Horseshoe (link will become available on Friday morning) 

On sale: Friday 2 October  
Price: $2,990.00 
Location: Available in-store at Melbourne Museum, 11 Nicholson Street Carlton, with select stock online at Museums Victoria Store.