Dan Moore
1910 - 1980
1910 - 1980
Dan Moore was Irish champion jockey in 1940 (when the title was decided on the combined total of wins on the Flat and over jumps) and multiple National Hunt champion. As a trainer he saddled Raymond Guest’s chaser L’Escargot to win successive Cheltenham Gold Cups and, later, the 1975 Grand National.
Dan Moore was Irish champion jockey in 1940 (when the title was decided on the combined total of wins on the Flat and over jumps) and multiple National Hunt champion. As a trainer he saddled Raymond Guest’s chaser L’Escargot to win successive Cheltenham Gold Cups and, later, the 1975 Grand National.
Daniel Levins Moore was born on October 29, 1910, and reared on the outskirts of Phoenix Park in Dublin, where his father was Honorary Secretary to the All Ireland Polo Club, in addition to being Master of the Ward Union Staghounds.
Daniel Levins Moore was born on October 29, 1910, and reared on the outskirts of Phoenix Park in Dublin, where his father was Honorary Secretary to the All Ireland Polo Club, in addition to being Master of the Ward Union Staghounds.
Dan began his race-riding career in 1932 and soon developed into one of the leading amateur riders. Having found himself ‘invited’ to turn professional or curtail his riding activities, he joined the paid ranks in 1937.
Dan began his race-riding career in 1932 and soon developed into one of the leading amateur riders. Having found himself ‘invited’ to turn professional or curtail his riding activities, he joined the paid ranks in 1937.
He achieved his first success in Britain when riding Royal Danieli to victory in the Stayers’ Handicap Chase at Manchester February 25, 1938. Four weeks later, he rode Royal Danieli in the Grand National. Having made much of the running and jumped the last fence in front, Royal Danieli was caught in the final strides by Battleship. Dan was essentially more of a horseman than a jockey. His poor style in a finish probably worked to the advantage of Battleship’s rider, 17-year-old Bruce Hobbs. For the remainder of his life, Dan would never accept that Royal Danieli had lost, there having been no photo-finish camera to aid the judge. Three weeks after their heroic effort at Aintree, Dan and Royal Danieli gained a measure of compensation when winning Manchester’s prestigious Lancashire Chase by four lengths from Dominick’s Cross.
He achieved his first success in Britain when riding Royal Danieli to victory in the Stayers’ Handicap Chase at Manchester February 25, 1938. Four weeks later, he rode Royal Danieli in the Grand National. Having made much of the running and jumped the last fence in front, Royal Danieli was caught in the final strides by Battleship. Dan was essentially more of a horseman than a jockey. His poor style in a finish probably worked to the advantage of Battleship’s rider, 17-year-old Bruce Hobbs. For the remainder of his life, Dan would never accept that Royal Danieli had lost, there having been no photo-finish camera to aid the judge. Three weeks after their heroic effort at Aintree, Dan and Royal Danieli gained a measure of compensation when winning Manchester’s prestigious Lancashire Chase by four lengths from Dominick’s Cross.
The next ten years were to provide more than adequate compensation for that near-miss on Royal Danieli. Dan became the leading National Hunt jockey six times and in 1940 headed the combined flat and jumping table.
The next ten years were to provide more than adequate compensation for that near-miss on Royal Danieli. Dan became the leading National Hunt jockey six times and in 1940 headed the combined flat and jumping table.
For several years he rode for trainer Charlie Rogers and owner Dorothy Paget, so there was no shortage of top-class horses for him to ride. Among his many successes in Miss Paget’s light blue and yellow colours, he won the 1942 Galway Plate and the 1943 Irish Grand National on Golden Jack, beating Prince Regent by four lengths on the latter occasion.
For several years he rode for trainer Charlie Rogers and owner Dorothy Paget, so there was no shortage of top-class horses for him to ride. Among his many successes in Miss Paget’s light blue and yellow colours, he won the 1942 Galway Plate and the 1943 Irish Grand National on Golden Jack, beating Prince Regent by four lengths on the latter occasion.
The records for the 1946 Irish Grand National show that the winner, Golden View II, was trained at Old Fairyhouse, Ratoath, just across the road from the racecourse, by Dick O’Connell. Insofar as the licence to train was in his name, that record is correct. However, it was well-known that O’Connell was Dan Moore’s head lad. The situation had come about through Dan’s desire to take up training while continuing to ride professionally. The stewards degreed that he must do one or the other, but not both. Dan wasn’t yet prepared to give up his riding career, so this was the compromise. As Dan was Dorothy Paget’s retained jockey, he rode her horse Dunshaughlin in the race, effectively riding against one that he trained, while Martin Molony had the leg up on Golden View II. Luckily for him, the authorities were content to turn a blind eye to this blatant rule infringement.
The records for the 1946 Irish Grand National show that the winner, Golden View II, was trained at Old Fairyhouse, Ratoath, just across the road from the racecourse, by Dick O’Connell. Insofar as the licence to train was in his name, that record is correct. However, it was well-known that O’Connell was Dan Moore’s head lad. The situation had come about through Dan’s desire to take up training while continuing to ride professionally. The stewards degreed that he must do one or the other, but not both. Dan wasn’t yet prepared to give up his riding career, so this was the compromise. As Dan was Dorothy Paget’s retained jockey, he rode her horse Dunshaughlin in the race, effectively riding against one that he trained, while Martin Molony had the leg up on Golden View II. Luckily for him, the authorities were content to turn a blind eye to this blatant rule infringement.
When National Hunt racing resumed in Britain after the war, Dan won two races of note in 1946, the Cheltenham Grand Annual on Loyal King and Liverpool’s Molyneux Chase on Housewarmer, both owned by Dorothy Paget. He rode what proved to be the last of his 30 British winners on Kilnaglory, also owned by Miss Paget, in the Oldham Chase at Manchester on New Year’s Day 1947. He finished second on Miss Paget’s Happy Home in that year’s Cheltenham Gold Cup, beaten 10 lengths by Fortina.
When National Hunt racing resumed in Britain after the war, Dan won two races of note in 1946, the Cheltenham Grand Annual on Loyal King and Liverpool’s Molyneux Chase on Housewarmer, both owned by Dorothy Paget. He rode what proved to be the last of his 30 British winners on Kilnaglory, also owned by Miss Paget, in the Oldham Chase at Manchester on New Year’s Day 1947. He finished second on Miss Paget’s Happy Home in that year’s Cheltenham Gold Cup, beaten 10 lengths by Fortina.
He won the Irish Grand National for a second time on Revelry in 1947. Again, the horse was officially trained by Richard O’Connell at Old Fairyhouse, but in reality, it was Dan who both trained and rode the winner. He rode Revelry in the 1948 Grand National, completing the course in twelfth place behind Sheila’s Cottage. That was his final ride in Britain.
He won the Irish Grand National for a second time on Revelry in 1947. Again, the horse was officially trained by Richard O’Connell at Old Fairyhouse, but in reality, it was Dan who both trained and rode the winner. He rode Revelry in the 1948 Grand National, completing the course in twelfth place behind Sheila’s Cottage. That was his final ride in Britain.
A badly damaged ankle caused him to announce his retirement from the saddle later that year and he immediately took out a trainer’s licence. He had already laid a firm foundation for the second phase of his racing career by sending Golden View II and Revelry to carry off consecutive Irish Grand Nationals.
A badly damaged ankle caused him to announce his retirement from the saddle later that year and he immediately took out a trainer’s licence. He had already laid a firm foundation for the second phase of his racing career by sending Golden View II and Revelry to carry off consecutive Irish Grand Nationals.
Dan moved Ballysax Manor on the Curragh in the early 1960s. During a long and successful training career, he saddled 13 Cheltenham Festival winners including back-to-back Cheltenham Gold Cups with L’Escargot (1970/71) and two Two-Mile Champion Chases with Quita Que (1959) and Inkslinger (1973). He trained L’Escargot to become only the second Gold Cup winner to win the Grand National, when, in 1975, he avenged the previous year’s defeat by Red Rum by beating ‘Rummy’ by 15 lengths. Dan had also sent L’Escargot to America to win the 1969 Meadowbrook Chase at Belmont Park in New York.
Dan moved Ballysax Manor on the Curragh in the early 1960s. During a long and successful training career, he saddled 13 Cheltenham Festival winners including back-to-back Cheltenham Gold Cups with L’Escargot (1970/71) and two Two-Mile Champion Chases with Quita Que (1959) and Inkslinger (1973). He trained L’Escargot to become only the second Gold Cup winner to win the Grand National, when, in 1975, he avenged the previous year’s defeat by Red Rum by beating ‘Rummy’ by 15 lengths. Dan had also sent L’Escargot to America to win the 1969 Meadowbrook Chase at Belmont Park in New York.
Other big race successes in Britain included the 1960 Mildmay Memorial Chase with Team Spirit, and the 1964 Massey-Ferguson Gold Cup with Flying Wild, beating Arkle into third place.
Other big race successes in Britain included the 1960 Mildmay Memorial Chase with Team Spirit, and the 1964 Massey-Ferguson Gold Cup with Flying Wild, beating Arkle into third place.
Dan was in failing health by the time the unlucky Tied Cottage entered his yard. A faller at the last fence when leading in the 1979 Cheltenham Gold Cup, Tied Cottage made amends the following month by winning the Irish Grand National, ridden by his owner Anthony Robinson, to record Dan’s only official success in the race as a trainer.
Dan was in failing health by the time the unlucky Tied Cottage entered his yard. A faller at the last fence when leading in the 1979 Cheltenham Gold Cup, Tied Cottage made amends the following month by winning the Irish Grand National, ridden by his owner Anthony Robinson, to record Dan’s only official success in the race as a trainer.
The following year, Tied Cottage won the Cheltenham Gold Cup only to later lose the race when the routine post-race analysis revealed minute traces of a ‘non-normal nutrient’, insufficient, it was generally acknowledged, to have improved the horse’s performance one iota. No blame whatsoever was attached to the horse’s connections but, as the rules of racing then stood, the horse had to be disqualified. The decision was taken three months after the race. Only weeks before, Tied Cottage’s owner Tony Robinson had died of cancer. Dan Moore, likewise a dying man, lived just long enough to learn that his last great winner had been disqualified.
The following year, Tied Cottage won the Cheltenham Gold Cup only to later lose the race when the routine post-race analysis revealed minute traces of a ‘non-normal nutrient’, insufficient, it was generally acknowledged, to have improved the horse’s performance one iota. No blame whatsoever was attached to the horse’s connections but, as the rules of racing then stood, the horse had to be disqualified. The decision was taken three months after the race. Only weeks before, Tied Cottage’s owner Tony Robinson had died of cancer. Dan Moore, likewise a dying man, lived just long enough to learn that his last great winner had been disqualified.
His wife, Joan, carried on the stable for a few years. Their daughter Pamela married leading jockey Tommy Carberry, rider of L’Escargot. Their son, Arthur Moore, emulated his father by winning the riding King’s Sprite to victory in the 1971 Irish Grand National. and has so far twice trained the winner: Feathered Gale in 1996 and Organisedconfusion in 2011.
His wife, Joan, carried on the stable for a few years. Their daughter Pamela married leading jockey Tommy Carberry, rider of L’Escargot. Their son, Arthur Moore, emulated his father by winning the riding King’s Sprite to victory in the 1971 Irish Grand National. and has so far twice trained the winner: Feathered Gale in 1996 and Organisedconfusion in 2011.