George Moore Gravely Ill

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Venusian

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Very sad news from Australia, where George Moore, one of the finest jockeys it has been my privilege so see, is said to be close to death in the grip of the advanced stages of Alzheimer's.

From racingandsports.co.au

Former champion jockey and trainer George Moore is reported to be close to death in a Sydney nursing home.

Gary Moore, the younger son of the 84-year-old racing legend, told Gold Coast media his family was prepared for his passing.

"We have kept Dad's condition pretty low key up until now," said Moore, who like his father was a former leading international jockey and is now a successful trainer in Asia.

"It is so sad for family members to see him now but it is time that his condition be let known to the racing community in Australia."

Macau-based Moore said his father had endured failing health for some time and was now suffering from advanced Alzheimer's Disease.

"He has had two bypasses. He has suffered a mild stroke, which he came out of," said Moore, who was attending yearling sales at the Gold Coast.
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Sadly, the death of this outstanding rider has just been announced.

Here is what The Age had to say about him...

Australia's greatest ever jockey George Moore has died aged 84 after a long illness.

Born in Mackay in north Queensland, Moore began riding at the age of 15 and moved to Sydney in the 1940s where he and the late TJ Smith began a formidable jockey-trainer partnership.

Known as "Cotton Fingers" for his ability to control a horse with the reins, Moore rode 119 Group One winners in his career, an Australian record which still stands.

In the 1950s and 60s, Moore rode successfully in Europe, returning home in 1971, where he won the Victoria Derby aboard Classic Mission at his final race ride.

He then became a successful trainer in Hong Kong, winning the premiership 11 times.

In 1986, Moore became the first jockey ever inducted into the Australian Sporting Hall of Fame and was an inaugural inductee to the Racing Hall of Fame in 2001
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What a sad evening it has been for us racing fans in Australia, with George's passing during the night at a Gold Coast nursing home.

In Australia he is recognised as a national hero, and considered the greatest rider, alongside Scobie Breasley to have graced the tracks. He will be best known for his association with Tommy "TJ" Smith (one of the world's best trainers). It was a"love-hate" relationship, but together they'd win 10 premierships straight (though Smith won a world record 32 consecutive premierships).

The best horse Moore rode without doubt was Tulloch.

Funnily enough Moore never won a Melbourne or Caulfield Cup.
 
Interestingly his sons Gary and John are two of the leading trainers in Macau (Gary) and Hong Kong (John). Both were also jockeys.
 
Moore rode 119 Group One winners in his career, an Australian record which still stands
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Presumably they mean winners of races that are nowadays rated as Gr 1. Or did Australia already have a grading system when he was riding? And do they mean Gr 1 races in Australia only or in other countries as well?
 
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