Gary W. Moore
Gary William Moore was born on March 8, 1952, son of George Moore, one of the great post-war Australian jockeys. Racing was in the Moore family’s blood. George’s sister married another leading Australian jockey, Garnie Bougoure. Gary was keen to follow in his father’s footsteps and had his first ride in public when 15 years old.
Gary William Moore was born on March 8, 1952, son of George Moore, one of the great post-war Australian jockeys. Racing was in the Moore family’s blood. George’s sister married another leading Australian jockey, Garnie Bougoure. Gary was keen to follow in his father’s footsteps and had his first ride in public when 15 years old.
He spent one full season in Britain in 1973, based with Noel Murless, and rode 12 winners from 119 mounts. However, for most of his European riding career he was based in France. He registered his first major victory there on Daniel Wildenstein’s Gravelines in the 1976 Prix Jacques le Marois. He was a leading jockey in France during the 1980s, riding initially for John Fellows and then for Criquette Head. During that decade he won the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, Prix du Jockey Club, Prix de Diane and Poule d’Essai des Pouliches. He also won the 1986 Gran Premio del Jockey Club in Milan for Mme Head on Antheus.
He spent one full season in Britain in 1973, based with Noel Murless, and rode 12 winners from 119 mounts. However, for most of his European riding career he was based in France. He registered his first major victory there on Daniel Wildenstein’s Gravelines in the 1976 Prix Jacques le Marois. He was a leading jockey in France during the 1980s, riding initially for John Fellows and then for Criquette Head. During that decade he won the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, Prix du Jockey Club, Prix de Diane and Poule d’Essai des Pouliches. He also won the 1986 Gran Premio del Jockey Club in Milan for Mme Head on Antheus.
His Group 1 successes in France included:
His Group 1 successes in France included:
Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe: Gold River (1981)
Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe: Gold River (1981)
Prix du Jockey Club: Bering (1986)
Prix du Jockey Club: Bering (1986)
Prix de Diane: Escaline (1983)
Prix de Diane: Escaline (1983)
Poule d’Essai des Pouliches: Ravinella (1988)
Poule d’Essai des Pouliches: Ravinella (1988)
Prix Jacques le Marois: Gravelines (1976)
Prix Jacques le Marois: Gravelines (1976)
Prix Morny: Severn Springs (1984)
Prix Morny: Severn Springs (1984)
Prix Robert Papin: Seven Springs (1984)
Prix Robert Papin: Seven Springs (1984)
Prix Saint-Alary: Riviere d’Or (1988)
Prix Saint-Alary: Riviere d’Or (1988)
Prix de la Salamandre: Oczy Czarnie (1988)
Prix de la Salamandre: Oczy Czarnie (1988)
Gary scored his biggest triumph in Britain when partnering the Criquette Head-trained Ravinella to victory in the 1988 One Thousand Guineas.
Gary scored his biggest triumph in Britain when partnering the Criquette Head-trained Ravinella to victory in the 1988 One Thousand Guineas.
In addition to his success in Europe, Gary was a top jockey in Hong Kong, where he won seven Hong Kong jockeys’ championships, including two Derby victories among his nearly 700 winners.
In addition to his success in Europe, Gary was a top jockey in Hong Kong, where he won seven Hong Kong jockeys’ championships, including two Derby victories among his nearly 700 winners.
Like his father, who became a successful trainer in Hong Kong following his retirement from the saddle, Gary turned to training after his riding career was over, based in Taipa, Macau, He won the Macau Trophy as champion trainer seven times in 13 seasons. Sadly, he never had the opportunity of training in Hong Kong itself, primarily a legacy of his alleged involvement in the “Shanghai Syndicate” race-fixing scandal of the mid-1980s. He did at least get to train a winner there, when 100-1 shot Viva Pronto led all the way in the 2010 Hong Kong Macau Trophy at Sha Tin.
Like his father, who became a successful trainer in Hong Kong following his retirement from the saddle, Gary turned to training after his riding career was over, based in Taipa, Macau, He won the Macau Trophy as champion trainer seven times in 13 seasons. Sadly, he never had the opportunity of training in Hong Kong itself, primarily a legacy of his alleged involvement in the “Shanghai Syndicate” race-fixing scandal of the mid-1980s. He did at least get to train a winner there, when 100-1 shot Viva Pronto led all the way in the 2010 Hong Kong Macau Trophy at Sha Tin.
His elder brother John Moore carved out a highly successful training career in Hong Kong, winning five trainers’ championships. In 2005 he broke Brian Kan’s record for the most career wins by a trainer in Hong Kong racing. John left Hong Kong in 2020, having reached the compulsory retirement age of 70, and returned to Australia to assist his brother Gary in his Sydney training operation.
His elder brother John Moore carved out a highly successful training career in Hong Kong, winning five trainers’ championships. In 2005 he broke Brian Kan’s record for the most career wins by a trainer in Hong Kong racing. John left Hong Kong in 2020, having reached the compulsory retirement age of 70, and returned to Australia to assist his brother Gary in his Sydney training operation.