Historical information

In 1934 a horse called Peter Pan stopped the nation when he defied the odds and won his second Melbourne Cup.

The story behind the chestnut horse, one of only five to win two Melbourne Cups, will be showcased at the National Museum of Australia that on Thursday acquired the 1934 cup.

The Australian thoroughbred won his first Melbourne Cup as a three-year-old colt in 1932 but was deemed unfit to contest the race in 1933 after suffering a near fatal viral disease that swept Sydney's racing stables.

In 1934 Peter Pan became a household name when at odds of 14/1 he took out the Melbourne Cup by four lengths - this time as a five-year-old horse ridden by Darby Munro. (http://news.smh.com.au/national/museum-acquires-1934-melbourne-cup-20080417-26rg.html)

Physical description

Crowds at the 1934 Melbourne Cup at Flemington Racecourse.