Josh Moore
Josh Moore
Josh Moore
The son of former jump jockey and now successful trainer Gary Moore, Joshua (Josh) Moore rode 269 winners over jumps in Britain before his career was ended by a fall at Haydock in April 2022. He enjoyed his most prolific season in 2020/21 when he partnered 40 winners, while the biggest victories included the 2015 Betfair Hurdle on Violet Dancer and the same year’s Henry VIII Novices' Chase on Ar Mad.
The son of former jump jockey and now successful trainer Gary Moore, Joshua (Josh) Moore rode 269 winners over jumps in Britain before his career was ended by a fall at Haydock in April 2022. He enjoyed his most prolific season in 2020/21 when he partnered 40 winners, while the biggest victories included the 2015 Betfair Hurdle on Violet Dancer and the same year’s Henry VIII Novices' Chase on Ar Mad.
He was unlucky in terms of injuries, his career being punctuated by a series of broken bones. A racecourse fall in October 2021 left him requiring spinal surgery, an operation that he eventually underwent after repeated delays.
He was unlucky in terms of injuries, his career being punctuated by a series of broken bones. A racecourse fall in October 2021 left him requiring spinal surgery, an operation that he eventually underwent after repeated delays.
He returned to the saddle in February 2022 and scored a notable victory on his father’s Botox Has in the National Spirit at Fontwell Park. He rode what would prove to be his last winner on Leave Of Absence for trainer Chris Gordon in a Newbury bumper on 2 April 2022.
He returned to the saddle in February 2022 and scored a notable victory on his father’s Botox Has in the National Spirit at Fontwell Park. He rode what would prove to be his last winner on Leave Of Absence for trainer Chris Gordon in a Newbury bumper on 2 April 2022.
Two weeks later, 16 April, Josh rode the Gary Moore-trained Gleno in the Rising Sun Veterans’ Handicap Chase at Haydock Park. Josh knew the ten-year-old well and had won three races on him the previous season.
Two weeks later, 16 April, Josh rode the Gary Moore-trained Gleno in the Rising Sun Veterans’ Handicap Chase at Haydock Park. Josh knew the ten-year-old well and had won three races on him the previous season.
Gleno was a dependable sort who had never previously fallen. However, on this occasion, the chestnut fell at the sixth fence and landed on top of his rider. Josh was rushed to Aintree University Hospital where scans revealed that he had suffered a broken left femur (the thigh bone), several ribs and a punctured lung, as well as a fracture of his T7 vertebra (lower back).
Gleno was a dependable sort who had never previously fallen. However, on this occasion, the chestnut fell at the sixth fence and landed on top of his rider. Josh was rushed to Aintree University Hospital where scans revealed that he had suffered a broken left femur (the thigh bone), several ribs and a punctured lung, as well as a fracture of his T7 vertebra (lower back).
That would have been bad enough in itself, requiring at least half a year in recovery, but Josh’s luck got worse within a day. Following surgery, he developed a life-threatening infection, fat embolism syndrome, a rare condition whereby fat from his broken femur leaked into his bloodstream. The fat travelled to his brain, as a result of which he was sedated and put on a ventilator to help him breathe, while tubes and machines took over the vital functions his body was unable to perform.
That would have been bad enough in itself, requiring at least half a year in recovery, but Josh’s luck got worse within a day. Following surgery, he developed a life-threatening infection, fat embolism syndrome, a rare condition whereby fat from his broken femur leaked into his bloodstream. The fat travelled to his brain, as a result of which he was sedated and put on a ventilator to help him breathe, while tubes and machines took over the vital functions his body was unable to perform.
Early fears that he might not survive were followed by talk of a brain injury that could destroy his quality of life. At one point, concern was so great that his partner Phoebe was called to the hospital, along with Josh’s mother, Jayne, at 2am. A nurse told them Josh was requiring the maximum possible amount of oxygen and there was nothing more they could do if his condition deteriorated further.
He spent weeks in critical care battling the infection, gradually beginning to show signs of progress. He was then transferred to the Princess Royal Hospital in Haywards Heath, closer his family’s home, followed by a stint at the Wellington Hospital in north London.
Early fears that he might not survive were followed by talk of a brain injury that could destroy his quality of life. At one point, concern was so great that his partner Phoebe was called to the hospital, along with Josh’s mother, Jayne, at 2am. A nurse told them Josh was requiring the maximum possible amount of oxygen and there was nothing more they could do if his condition deteriorated further.
He spent weeks in critical care battling the infection, gradually beginning to show signs of progress. He was then transferred to the Princess Royal Hospital in Haywards Heath, closer his family’s home, followed by a stint at the Wellington Hospital in north London.
To the amazement of his doctors, Josh was able to return home in July, three months after the fall and its aftermath which so nearly ended his life. By that time, his recovery was well advanced, though he could remember little of his time in hospital. Having had tubes inserted in his throat, he had barely eaten for three months, and his weight had fallen to 8st 3lb.
To the amazement of his doctors, Josh was able to return home in July, three months after the fall and its aftermath which so nearly ended his life. By that time, his recovery was well advanced, though he could remember little of his time in hospital. Having had tubes inserted in his throat, he had barely eaten for three months, and his weight had fallen to 8st 3lb.
A spell at the Injured Jockeys Fund’s Oaksey House in Lambourn also formed part of his recuperation.
A spell at the Injured Jockeys Fund’s Oaksey House in Lambourn also formed part of his recuperation.
Accepting that his race riding career was over, Josh announced his retirement in January 2023, aged 31. He stated that he intended to focus on assisting his father at the family’s racing stables in West Sussex with the possibility of taking over the licence at some point in the future.
Accepting that his race riding career was over, Josh announced his retirement in January 2023, aged 31. He stated that he intended to focus on assisting his father at the family’s racing stables in West Sussex with the possibility of taking over the licence at some point in the future.
On 23 April 2023, just over a year after nearly losing his life, and nine months after leaving hospital, Josh Moore wrote another chapter in his remarkable recovery by running in London Marathon, alongside his sister and broadcaster Hayley, finishing in a time of 3 hours 38 minutes and 26 seconds.
On 23 April 2023, just over a year after nearly losing his life, and nine months after leaving hospital, Josh Moore wrote another chapter in his remarkable recovery by running in London Marathon, alongside his sister and broadcaster Hayley, finishing in a time of 3 hours 38 minutes and 26 seconds.