Big Philou

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Big Philou was a notable Australian thoroughbred racehorse. He was son of Le Filou from the mare Pink Lady and trained by Bart Cummings.

He is best remembered for the controversy surrounding his withdrawal from the 1969 VRC Melbourne Cup when as the hot favourite he was the victim of a doping scandal and was withdrawn from the race 39 minutes before the start.

Jockey Roy Higgins believed that the horse was a certainty to win the race.

Rain Lover went on to win the Cup and created history as the first back-to-back winner since Archer in 1861 and 1862.

Although he missed out on winning a Melbourne Cup the horse did record wins in the 1969 VATC Caulfield Cup and the 1970 VATC Underwood Stakes.

[edit] Reference

• Big Philou's pedigree