Peter Pan (1929–1941) was a chestnut Australian

Thoroughbred The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word ''thoroughbred'' is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed. Thoroughbreds are ...

racehorse and stallion.

Background

Peter Pan was sired by Pantheon (GB) out of Alwina by St Alwyne (GB). He was foaled at the Baroona Stud north of Sydney Australia in 1929. His sire, Pantheon was an outstanding racehorse winning 10 races from 44 starts in England and Australia. Alwina did not race, but was a good broodmare.Pring, Peter; "Analysis of Champion Racehorses", The Thoroughbred Press, Sydney, 1977, Peter Pan was known for having an unusual colouring for a Thoroughbred. He was chestnut with a blonde mane and tail. Frank McGrath's wife loved Peter Pan for his colouring and racing beauty.

Racing career

Conditioned by future Hall of Fame trainer Frank McGrath, Sr., Peter Pan raced early in the 1930s during the Great Depression and with

Phar Lap Phar Lap (4 October 1926 – 5 April 1932) was a champion New Zealand–bred Thoroughbred racehorse who is widely regarded as New Zealand's greatest racehorse ever. Achieving incredible success during his distinguished career, his initial u ...

, Chatham and

Rogilla Rogilla was a chestnut Australian thoroughbred gelding, who was a versatile racehorse performing in Australia. Known as the ''Coalfields Champion'' from Newcastle, Rogilla raced during a vintage era of the Australian turf. He won in each of th ...

, all household names at the time. Frank McGrath, Sr. and some others considered Peter Pan to possibly be a better horse than

. Peter Pan was famous for winning the

Melbourne Cup The Melbourne Cup is a Thoroughbred horse race held in Melbourne, Australia. It is a 3200-metre race for three-year-olds and over, conducted by the Victoria Racing Club on the Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne, Victoria as part of the Melb ...

twice, in 1932 and 1934. In the running of the 1932 Melbourne Cup, Peter Pan, carrying Billy Duncan, was travelling at the rear of the pack when he clipped the heels of the horse in front and fell to his knees. Running behind him was his stablemate Denis Boy, who bumped the champion back onto his feet. From there, Peter Pan raced past the pack to take out the race by a neck. When he was led into the winner's circle, a grass stain was clearly visible on his face. In 1933, Peter Pan fought a near-fatal viral disease that swept Sydney's racing stables and did not contest the

. Frank McGrath Snr. personally nursed the horse back to health. Peter Pan won his 1934 Melbourne Cup carrying

Darby Munro David Hugh "Darby" Munro (5 March 1913 – 3 April 1966) also known as "the Demon" or the "Brown Bomber" was an Aboriginal Australian jockey born in Caulfield. He was a three-time winner of the Melbourne Cup. Early life He was educated at ...

at on his back and from an outside draw on a heavy track, hence his long odds of 14/1. In 1932, he also won the

AJC Derby AJC may refer to: * Agreement on Journey Continuation, an agreement between European rail operators to allow passengers in case of a missed connection * Allen Jack+Cottier (AJ+C), an architectural practice * American Jewish Committee, an advocacy ...

and the

MacKinnon Stakes The VRC Champions Stakes, registered as the ''LKS Mackinnon Stakes'', is a Victoria Racing Club Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race run under Weight for Age conditions over a distance of 2000 metres at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne, Australia on ...

. To win two Melbourne Cups is a rare feat, and this with his fine record gained him a place in the Australian Racing Hall of Fame. In 1935, Peter Pan suffered a recurrence of the illness that nearly killed him in 1933. Once again, Frank McGrath Snr. nursed him back to health but the horse was not his old self. Out of loyalty to the enormous public following that Peter Pan had gained, Rodney R. Dangar and McGrath agreed to start Peter Pan in the 1935

. The horse carried (a pound more than carried by

Carbine A carbine ( or ) is a long gun that has a barrel shortened from its original length. Most modern carbines are rifles that are compact versions of a longer rifle or are rifles chambered for less powerful cartridges. The smaller size and lighte ...

to win the 1890

) but finished 13th. He was retired to stud the following year.

Image gallery

File:PETER PAN lll VRC MELBOURNE CUP 1932 & 1934.JPG, Peter Pan at Flemington jockey

. File:Peter Pan 1935 AJC Spring Stakes Jockey Jim Pike Trainer Frank McGrath.jpg, Peter Pan 1935 Spring Stakes jockey Jim Pike. File:Peter Pan 1934 VRC Melbourne Cup Jockey Darby Munro Trainer Frank McGrath.jpg, Peter Pan 1934 Melbourne Cup. File:Nma.img-ci20092429-668-ei-vs1.jpg, 1934 Melbourne Cup won by Peter Pan.

1933 & 1934 racebooks

File:1933 AJC DONCASTER HANDICAP RACEBOOK P1.jpg, 1933 AJC St Leger racebook. File:1933 AJC St Leger Racebook P2.jpg, Inside cover showing race day officials. File:1933 AJC St Leger Racebook.jpg, Conditions & starters showing the winner, Peter Pan. Image: 1934 VRC MELBOURNE CUP RACEBOOK P1.jpg, 1934 VRC Melbourne Cup racebook with train & turnstile passes. Image: 1934 VRC MELBOURNE CUP RACEBOOK P2.jpg, Conditions & Starters showing the winner, Peter Pan. Image: 1934 VRC MELBOURNE CUP RACEBOOK P3.jpg, 1934 VRC Melbourne Cup racebook. Image: 1934 VRC MELBOURNE CUP RACEBOOK P4.jpg, 1934 VRC Melbourne Cup racebook. Image: 1934 VRC Melbourne Cup Racebook P5.jpg, Back cover showing race day Railway Arrangements.

Stud career

Peter Pan stood at Rodney R. Dangar's country property Baroona, Whittingham,

Singleton, New South Wales Singleton is a town on the banks of the Hunter River in New South Wales, Australia. Singleton is 197 km (89 mi) north-north-west of Sydney, and 70 km (43 mi) north-west of Newcastle. At June 2018, Singleton had an urban pop ...

where he exclusively covered his owner's mares. His stud career was cut short when he broke his leg in 1941 and was destroyed. Peter Pan is buried at Baroona, Whittingham,

. Peter Pan sired the stakeswinners Grampian, Peter and Precept, who won the Moonee Valley Stakes and VRC Derby. Peter won the Williamstown Cup and placed 2nd in the 1944

Honours

In 1978 he was honoured on a

postage stamp A postage stamp is a small piece of paper issued by a post office, postal administration, or other authorized vendors to customers who pay postage (the cost involved in moving, insuring, or registering mail), who then affix the stamp to the f ...

issued by Australia Postbr>

References

External links

Australian Racing Hall of Fame

Peter Pan's pedigree and partial racing stats

Peter Pan 1934 Melbourne Cup trophy, National Museum of Australia
{{DEFAULTSORT:Peter Pan Iii 1929 racehorse births Australian Racing Hall of Fame horses Melbourne Cup winners Racehorses trained in Australia Racehorses bred in Australia Thoroughbred family 3