The four days preceding the infamous 1930 Melbourne Cup are retold in
this thrilling account. When Phar Lap, a celebrated racehorse, generated
unprecedented excitement among the public, bookmakers were filled with
dread--a victory for the favorite would cost them enormously. In an
incident ripped from a gangster movie, a gunman tried to shoot Phar Lap
on a quiet suburban street. With his life in danger and those closest to
him terrified, the champion was spirited away to a secret location while
one of the city's most celebrated detectives searched for the culprits.
Even an hour before the jump, Phar Lap's whereabouts remained a mystery,
and when he finally arrived at the track, the huge crowd cheered him on.
Research from horseracing experts and through interviews with
eyewitnesses make up this chronicle of the tremendous race in this
gripping sports history.