20 October 2005
The Melbourne Cup goes on show at the National Museum tomorrow alongside another icon - Phar Lap's heart - 75 years after the legendary horse won the prestigious race.
The $80,000 cup is visiting the National Museum as part of an international tour which concludes at Flemington on that famous Tuesday in November when they run the Melbourne Cup.
The heart - one of the museum's most popular objects - has been rested from public display for almost two years. It will re-appear permanently in the museum's Nation gallery late next month and will be on show in the Hall from 11am to 3pm tomorrow with the cup.
WHAT: Melbourne Cup and Phar Lap's heart on show
WHEN: 11am, Friday, 21 October 2005
WHERE: Hall, National Museum of Australia, Canberra
The Victoria Racing Club's Joe McGrath will give a brief presentation on the history of the cup at 11am. National Museum director Craddock Morton and curator Joanne Bach will also be available for comment.
Phar Lap won almost every major horse race during the Great Depression, including the Melbourne Cup in 1930. His heart came to the National Museum after being preserved at the Institute of Anatomy in Canberra. His heart weighs 6.2 kilograms - more than two kilograms heavier than that of an average horse.
The heart will go on show permanently as part of a new sports module being introduced to the Museum next month. Other sports being featured in the exhibition include tennis, cycling, rugby union and surfing.
For more information please contact Leanda Coleman on 02 6208 5338, 0438 620 710; Sandy Forbes on 02 6208 5351, 0409 916 481 or email media@nma.gov.au