b'The Great Eastern Mail JUNE 2020 19racing The sage of the sand dunesE IGHT kilometres fromholder, John Landy stayed foralong the way. Paul Kennedy Lakes Entrance (abouta short stint, but his athleticof the ABC recently featured 500 metres from thephilosophy and Percys werePercys book, Why Die on his West Kalimna motors on thenot compatible. In spite of hissports report. Incredibly, the Bairnsdale side) is an un- exemplary sportsmanship,book sells for around $700 on marked site of a little knownLandy left and his trophy cabi- eBay. Even the books author, World athletic record. It isnet is sadly bare when it comesGraem Sims cant get a copy.where a slight, wiry, snowyto Commonwealth or OlympicIt was in his twilight years haired runner completed hisgold medals. Percy showed extraordinary 100 mile run, which he begancourage. On his Portsea bush in Cann River. track two weeks and then one He is the third AustralianWHACKER week before he died, he wasto do it and it is considered aout running time trials for a World record for his age group.ON THE mile! King Of Hastings ridden byThe runner lacks nothing inWING! At the age of 80, Percy finally Jye McNeil wins the Poolesconfidence either and claimssuccumbed to motor neuron Accountants Golden Topaz atit would have been a Worlddisease. It was a brave finale Swan Hill Racecourse. Picture:all comers record if he hadntto an amazing life, one us East PAT SCALA/RACING PHOTOS stopped for breakfast and aGippslanders can be proud to bath in Orbost. have shared.This amazing run providesWith Elon Musk sending bil-most of the nuts and bolts forlion dollar rockets in to space the springboard that launchesand Donald Trump wanting the career of Australias mostanother moon landing, includ-enigmatic and eccentric sport- ing the first woman, (pretty ing character. sure he would be thinking Hi-Percy Cerruty, runner,lary), its a pity they cant spend trainer, mentor and poet wasas much on medical research.about to become a legend. ThisWe would do well to year is the 125th anniversary ofremember Percy on the 125th Jockey Jye McNeil is all smilesPercys birth. Not all followed the Percyanniversary of his birth on the after his win at Swan HillWhen he turned his lifemantra 100 per cent. The lateQueens Birthday Monday just Racecourse. Picture:around, from a walking coro- Keith Ashworth of Metungpast, as Neil Daniher continues PAT SCALA/RACING PHOTOS nary time bomb to be possiblytrained at Portsea and survivedhis brave crusade to find a cure Golden Topaz for a King the fittest man on the planet,the harsh training regime andfor MND. Dig deep for Neil and he spent considerable time indiet. Portsea used to have aPercy during June, the month East Gippsland, hiking, run- second hotel with a large cellar.of the Big Freeze.ning and writing poetry.Keith and a few other Percy T HERE were quite a fewwith the Old Brighton GroupKing Of Hastings will now beThe years spent in the highdisciples sought refuge there smilingfacesaroundsyndicate. aimedatthelistedCreswickcountry and running the tracksin the cellar for some very MetungduringtheKingOfHastingsisoneofStakesatFlemington,whereand roads of the East end ofpleasant Sundays, out of sight QueensBirthdayweekend,thosehorsesyouwouldlovehe has an excellent record ofthe state were the prologue forof the local constabulary, but especially after weeks of lock- to own. The son of Ilovethiscitya win and a second from hishis extraordinary running andmore importantly, out of sight down.outoftheDanerichmare,only two starts there. He maycoaching career. of Percy.SomeofthosewithbigHandcutwasabargainbuythen have a short break beforeHe eventually set up a train- Keith almost won the Frank-smiles are part of the King ofat$32,000.Hehasnowbeing aimed at suitable racesing centre for the faithful atston to Portsea ultra marathon, Hastingssyndicatewhowonaccumulated$374,000induring the Spring. Portsea, where he tortured run- finishing second one year in theprestigious$90,000GoldprizemoneyandthisfromHis big group of loyal ownersners scaling huge sand dunes,the race that Percy helped TopazattheSwanHillCuponly10startsforfourwinswill be hoping they are allowedsustained on a spartan diet ofinstigate. The 48th edition of meeting. andfourseconds.Hisonlyback on course by then so theynuts and dried fruit. Those whothe race was held in April.Peter Wilkinson, immediatetwo unplaced runs were bothcan cheer their champ along.survived became the elite, ledThere are fascinating books past president of the MetungfifthplacingsintheBallaratOne thing is for sure, if he hitsof course by Olympic champi- on Percys life and career. His RSLandsonAlex,withaMagic Millions Classic and thethe front in a race at the Springon, Herb Elliot. fanatical approach to health group of former school matesGoldCoastGuineasbehindcarnival,youwillcertainlyNot all agreed with hisand fitness is certainly not for are involved in the ownershipAlligator Blood. know about it. methods. 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