Garrett Moore
1851 - 1908
1851 - 1908
Born at Eyre-Court, Co. Galway on March 28 1851, Garrett Moore, always known as Garry, was the eldest son of John Moore, of Jockey Hall, Curragh.
Born at Eyre-Court, Co. Galway on March 28 1851, Garrett Moore, always known as Garry, was the eldest son of John Moore, of Jockey Hall, Curragh.
He came to England in the mid-1960s, and his steeplechasing debut, at Bangor on a horse owned by Colonel Cotton, was not a success. He fell at the water and did so again in another race later that day.
He came to England in the mid-1960s, and his steeplechasing debut, at Bangor on a horse owned by Colonel Cotton, was not a success. He fell at the water and did so again in another race later that day.
He only rode one winner in 1867 and just one again the following year.
He only rode one winner in 1867 and just one again the following year.
He enjoyed a slightly better 1869 with five winners, the last of which was Knight of Australia, a length winner of the Tradesmen's Plate Steeplechase at Limerick.
He enjoyed a slightly better 1869 with five winners, the last of which was Knight of Australia, a length winner of the Tradesmen's Plate Steeplechase at Limerick.
With 18 wins in 1870, he tied with Mr J. M. Richardson for third place on the list of Gentlemen riders behind Arthur Yates, with 49, and Jack Goodwin, who rode 23. His best win that season came on his own Joey Ladle on which he won the Drogheda Plate at Punchestown.
With 18 wins in 1870, he tied with Mr J. M. Richardson for third place on the list of Gentlemen riders behind Arthur Yates, with 49, and Jack Goodwin, who rode 23. His best win that season came on his own Joey Ladle on which he won the Drogheda Plate at Punchestown.
Garry was unlucky in 1871, just getting done by a head when riding Melton Mowbray into second place behind Captain Smith on Daybreak in the National Hunt Steeplechase run at Burton.
Garry was unlucky in 1871, just getting done by a head when riding Melton Mowbray into second place behind Captain Smith on Daybreak in the National Hunt Steeplechase run at Burton.
He took his first ride in the Grand National in 1872 on the hard-pulling Scots Grey on which, later on, he won the first Bristol Steeplechase, known as The Royal Steeplechase. The race was conceived that it might become a rival in the west to the Grand National. Every horse in the first race fell, except for Scots Grey, which came home alone.
He took his first ride in the Grand National in 1872 on the hard-pulling Scots Grey on which, later on, he won the first Bristol Steeplechase, known as The Royal Steeplechase. The race was conceived that it might become a rival in the west to the Grand National. Every horse in the first race fell, except for Scots Grey, which came home alone.
That year he dropped a place in the list of gentlemen riders with Richardson, Spence and Crawshaw all riding a greater number of winners.
That year he dropped a place in the list of gentlemen riders with Richardson, Spence and Crawshaw all riding a greater number of winners.
Garry then endured a quiet couple of years, not winning any race of note until Fawley won the Great Metropolitan under him in 1875.
Garry then endured a quiet couple of years, not winning any race of note until Fawley won the Great Metropolitan under him in 1875.
He had another, more successful, crack at the National when, in 1878, finishing third on his father's Pride of Kildare behind Shifnal and Martha.
He had another, more successful, crack at the National when, in 1878, finishing third on his father's Pride of Kildare behind Shifnal and Martha.
Garry's day in the sun came on 29 March 1878. Riding his own The Liberator, which started second favourite at 5-1, he won the Grand National by an easy 10 lengths from Jackal and Martha. Garry had purchased The Liberator for £500 at a Dublin auction in 1876.
Garry's day in the sun came on 29 March 1878. Riding his own The Liberator, which started second favourite at 5-1, he won the Grand National by an easy 10 lengths from Jackal and Martha. Garry had purchased The Liberator for £500 at a Dublin auction in 1876.
The Liberator, a well-named son of Dan O'Connell and Mary O'Toole, was a crafty old horse. Normally likely to take liberties with the fences at some of London's artificial courses, he seemed to know that not only would he fall, but hurt himself into the bargain, if he attempted a similar approach at Liverpool.
The Liberator, a well-named son of Dan O'Connell and Mary O'Toole, was a crafty old horse. Normally likely to take liberties with the fences at some of London's artificial courses, he seemed to know that not only would he fall, but hurt himself into the bargain, if he attempted a similar approach at Liverpool.
Increasing weight forced Garry from the saddle in the early eighties, and he began training at Jockey Hall. It was from here that he sent out Theodolite to win the 1888 Irish Derby.
Increasing weight forced Garry from the saddle in the early eighties, and he began training at Jockey Hall. It was from here that he sent out Theodolite to win the 1888 Irish Derby.
After the death of C. Jousiffe in February 1891, Garry took over the training yard at Seven Barrows, Lambourn. In his very first year, he sent out Derby failure, Surefoot, to win the Eclipse.
After the death of C. Jousiffe in February 1891, Garry took over the training yard at Seven Barrows, Lambourn. In his very first year, he sent out Derby failure, Surefoot, to win the Eclipse.
He also trained Romer for Joe Davis to win the 1904 Derby Gold Cup.
He also trained Romer for Joe Davis to win the 1904 Derby Gold Cup.
Garry's health declined rapidly in the spring of 1908. He died on Saturday evening, 23 May, at his residence, Headbourne Worthy, near Winchester.
Garry's health declined rapidly in the spring of 1908. He died on Saturday evening, 23 May, at his residence, Headbourne Worthy, near Winchester.
The funeral took place on Wednesday 27 May at 3 p.m. when he was laid to rest in the Upper Lambourn Cemetery. The breastplate on the coffin bore the inscription 'Garrett Moore. 1851 -1908'.
The funeral took place on Wednesday 27 May at 3 p.m. when he was laid to rest in the Upper Lambourn Cemetery. The breastplate on the coffin bore the inscription 'Garrett Moore. 1851 -1908'.
Best wins:
Best wins:
1872: Irish Grand National - Scots Grey
1872: Irish Grand National - Scots Grey
1874: Bristol Royal Chase - Scots Grey
1874: Bristol Royal Chase - Scots Grey
1875: Irish Grand National - Scots Grey
1875: Irish Grand National - Scots Grey
1875: Great Metropolitan Chase - Furley
1875: Great Metropolitan Chase - Furley
1879: Birmingham Grand Annual Chase - Juggler
1879: Birmingham Grand Annual Chase - Juggler
1879: Grand National - The Liberator
1879: Grand National - The Liberator
1881: Liverpool Hurdle - Beauchamp II
1881: Liverpool Hurdle - Beauchamp II