Nearly 100 years ago, the Australian Light Horse planned a race meeting near Jericho as a ruse to fool the enemy into thinking no major attack was imminent.
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Inspired by this history, and the horse who won the main event, North East songwriter Glen Naylor has released a single in tribute.
Bill the Bastard describes the Jericho Cup, a three-mile (4.8 kilometre) race through the desert sands, won by a famously tough warhorse few could ride.
“It’s just the most wonderful story,” Naylor said. “I had to make sure that this story, this song was factually and historically correct.”
Naylor, who lives at Waldara, near Wangaratta, worked with her co-writer Chris Wilson and also liaised with author Roland Perry, who wrote a book about Bill.
The song can be ordered via bonzabobbydazzler.com.
