Laurie Larmer, 98, to be honoured at Anzac Day race meeting at Flemington on Monday

He’s 98 years old but some early memories of Phar Lap haven’t faded as a World War II veteran prepares for a special day at the Flemington races on Anzac Day.

WWII veteran bomber pilot Laurie Larmer 98, holds a model of a Halifax bomber that he flew during the war. Picture: David Caird.

World War II bomber pilot Laurie Larmer has led an extraordinary life and the 98-year-old will arrive at Flemington on Monday still holding precious Phar Lap memories close to his heart.

Larmer was just a boy when Phar Lap lifted the nation’s spirits in the Great Depression but the great horse touched Larmer’s family as well.

“My Dad was working in the jockeys’ room at Flemington and my Mum took (Phar Lap’s jockey) Jim Pike’s gear home on the Saturday and washed it for him and brought it back to him on the Tuesday,” Larmer recalls.

“There was also a time I had threepence each way on Phar Lap, it was a bet I had with my uncle.

“I was born within three doors of the Moonee Valley Racecourse so I have always loved racing.”

Larmer will be a special guest of honour of the Victoria Racing Club committee at the Anzac Day races at which he will cheer on a horse he part-owns, Barade, which is racing in The Les Carlyon (1700m).

Larmer was just 21 when he flew several missions over Germany in 1945, piloting missions to bomb nine German cities including Dortmund, Hagen and Heligoland.

Of the 10,000 Australians who flew in Bomber Command during World War II, 3500 were killed in action.

WWII veteran bomber pilot Laurie Larmer 98, flew bombers out of England including the Halifax bomber. Copy photo of Laurie Larmer with his Halifax bomber crew. Picture: David Caird.

Larmer has always retained a keen interest in racing, nominating Bernborough, Vain and Tulloch as his favourite horses.

He gives Bernborough the nod by a short half head over the other equine champions.

“It was the time just after World War II and everybody needed a bit of a kick along and Bernborough just seemed to be the horse to do it,” Larmer says.

“At the moment I have got an interest in four horses with OTI and one of them will be racing on Monday.

“I try to watch the races but my eyesight is bad these days so I can’t see them that well.

“But I’ll be going to Flemington to the races on Monday as a guest of the committee which is a lovely gesture.

“They have a (Anzac Day) ceremony during the race meeting, down in the mounting yard, to pay their respects to us and to our fallen comrades.”

Like all of us bitten by the racing bug, Larmer says he still regularly has a flutter on the horses.

Asked whether he has been a winning or a losing punter over the journey of his remarkable life, Larmer chuckled and replied: “You know the answer to that!”

Originally published as Laurie Larmer, 98, to be honoured at Anzac Day race meeting at Flemington on Monday