Hair analysis reveals legendary racehorse Phar Lap died of arsenic poisoning in 1932.

Forensic hair analysis has helped solve one of the longest running controversies of the racing world. Research from Ivan M. Kempson and Dermot A. Henryhave now subjected the horse’s hairs to a very thorough examination. The report in the journal “Angewandte Chemie” found that the animal did indeed die from arsenic poisoning.

Forensic analysis of hair particles usually identify whether there are any drugs or alcohol within a person’s system. Hair analysis has often been used to detect drug use or to uncover poisoning as the cause of death during crime scene investigations.

After his death, Phar Lap was prepared and stuffed and displayed in Museum Victoria in Melbourne. “We were able to obtain small pieces of the hide and mane with the roots intact,” reports Kempson.

The hair was individually analysed along their entire length with synchrotron X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy at the Advanced Photon Source in Chicago. This method detects even trace amounts of chemical elements because each element emits very characteristic radiation.

“If you take into account the rate of growth for horse hair and the metabolic rate, the location at which the elevated arsenic concentration was found indicates that the horse must have eaten and metabolized the arsenic,” explains Kempson. In addition, the scientists used an X-ray technique that can distinguish the chemical environment of the arsenic. Says Kempson “The arsenic species identified also suggest that Phar Lap died of arsenic poisoning.”

It is not known of yet how or why this poisoning occurred, but rumours persist even now that the horses phenomenal success may have lead to it being intoxicated by rival trainers or local gangsters.

For more information on forensic hair analysis or forensic poison analysis / toxicology please visit Forensic Resources Ltd.