George Moore (jockey)

George Thomas Donald Moore OBE (5 July 1923 – 8 January 2008) was an Australian jockey and Thoroughbred horse trainer. He began his career in racing in 1939 in Brisbane where he quickly became one of the top apprentice jockeys and where in 1943 he won the Senior Jockeys' Premiership. He then relocated to Sydney and in 1949 went to work for trainer Tommy J. Smith (also known as T.J. Smith) with whom he would have considerable success.

In 1950, at the invitation of Johnny Longden, Moore traveled to the United States where he won the San Diego Handicap at Del Mar Racetrack.^[1] In 1957 and 1958 George Moore won the Jockeys' Premiership at Sydney then in 1959 accepted an offer to ride in Europe for trainer/owner Alec Head of Haras du Quesnay and another major owner, Prince Aly Khan. There, he won the Prix du Jockey Club and the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, as well as a British Classic Race, the 2,000 Guineas. Returning to Sydney, Moore continued to win Jockeys' Premierships and in 1967 returned for a time to compete in Europe for trainer Noel Murless where he won the first three 1967 British Classics, the 1,000 Guineas, a second 2,000 Guineas, and his biggest win of all in British racing, the 1967 Epsom Derby.

In Australia, George Moore won numerous of the country's top races and was the jockey aboard Tulloch for nineteen of the Hall of Fame horse's thirty-six wins. He retired from riding in 1971 having won 312 metropolitan stakes and a record 119 Group One races. He then turned his talents to training, first in France, then in Australia and for thirteen seasons in Hong Kong where, between 1973 and 1985, he won the training premiership eleven times.

After the 1985 racing season George Moore retired to the Gold Coast. He died in Sydney on 8 January 2008.^[2]

Honours

Moore was one of the most honoured men in Australian Thoroughbred racing history. He was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1972^[3] and in 1986 was inducted into the newly created Sport Australia Hall of Fame.

In December 1998, Sydney Racing authorities created the George Moore Medal, to be given annually to the most outstanding jockey competing in Sydney.

In 2000 he was awarded the Australian Sports Medal "for outstanding commitment to Thoroughbred Racing".^[4] Moore was part of the 2001 inaugural class inducted into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame. In 2007, Australia Post placed his image on a postage stamp as part of its Australian Legends series.

In 2009 Moore was inducted into the Queensland Sport Hall of Fame.^[5]

Since 2008 the Brisbane Racing Club honours George Moore with a race in his name, the Group 3 George Moore Stakes at Doomben Racecourse in December.^[6]

A racing family

George Moore's sister married jockey Garnet Bougoure. George's eldest son, John, worked as his assistant before going out on his own. John Moore carved out a successful career, winning five training titles in Hong Kong and in 2005 broke Brian Kan's record for most career wins by a trainer in Hong Kong racing. Recently he received international attention as the trainer of the world-ranked Viva Pataca.

Another son, Gary W. Moore, was a successful jockey who won seven Hong Kong riding championships. He also rode in Europe where his wins included the 1981 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe on Gold River. In 1988, he rode the filly Ravinella to victory in the British Classic, the 1,000 Guineas, plus the French Poule d'Essai des Pouliches. Like his father, Gary Moore also turned to training after his riding career was over and in Taipa has twice won the Hong Kong Macau Trophy as champion trainer.

George Moore's youngest child, Michele Ann Moore, married Peter Leyshan, who was a Sydney-based jockey apprenticed to TJ Smith. George took Peter with him to Hong Kong, where he was very successful, always finishing in the top 3. He won the Gold Coast Racing Club's riding title in 1992 and 1993. After his riding career was over, he too turned to training. In 1996 Peter Leyshan took out a trainer's licence with the Macau Jockey Club, and has won the Hong Kong Macau Trophy, Macau Derby, Gold Cup & most of the Big races in Macau, as a Macau champion trainer.

Michele was George's assistant trainer, and when her father retired, became Peter's assistant. Michele and Peter have 4 children. Philippe, Christina, Sarah & Amanda. Christina is married to Jason Lee and they have 3 children.

References

• Australian Racing Museum and Hall of Fame Champions - George Moore
• George Moore at the Sport Australia Hall of Fame
• Australia Post Australian Legends - George Moore
• 24 January 2005 article on Peter Leyshan at the Hong Kong Jockey Club