George Moore (jockey)
A jockey with a genius for timing, he dominated Australian racing by forging a legendary partnership with trainer Tommy Smith.
1923–2008 (age 85)·Australian champion jockey·Birthday: July 5·The Greatest Generation
Biography
George Moore’s story is one of relentless ambition and uncanny instinct. Born in 1923, he was a natural from the moment he entered the Brisbane racing scene as a teenager, claiming the Senior Jockeys' Premiership by age twenty. But his true legacy was forged after a move to Sydney, where he aligned himself with the formidable trainer Tommy J. Smith. Together, they became an unstoppable force, their names synonymous with victory in the 1950s and 60s. Moore’s style was cerebral; he was a master tactician who could 'wait' on a horse better than anyone, delivering explosive finishes that left crowds breathless. His success wasn't confined to Australia—he conquered the racetracks of Europe with equal flair, particularly in France, before returning home to cap his career as a respected trainer. More than just a winner, Moore reshaped the art of race-riding with his strategic patience.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
George was born in 1923, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When George Was Born
The biggest hits of 1923
#1 Movie
The Covered Wagon
George's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1923Born
The Great Kanto earthquake devastates Tokyo
President: Calvin Coolidge"Yes! We Have No Bananas" — Billy Jones
1928Started school
Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin; Mickey Mouse debuts
President: Calvin Coolidge"Ol' Man River" — Paul WhitemanBest Picture: Wings
1936Became a teenager
Jesse Owens wins four golds at the Berlin Olympics
Gas: $0.19/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"The Way You Look Tonight" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: The Great Ziegfeld
1939Could drive
World War II begins; The Wizard of Oz premieres
Gas: $0.19/galMin wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Over the Rainbow" — Judy GarlandBest Picture: Gone with the Wind
1941Could vote
Pearl Harbor attack brings the US into WWII
Gas: $0.19/galHome: $3,060Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Chattanooga Choo Choo" — Glenn MillerBest Picture: How Green Was My Valley
1944Turned 21
D-Day: Allied forces land at Normandy
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $3,400Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Swinging on a Star" — Bing CrosbyBest Picture: Going My Way
1953Turned 30
DNA structure discovered by Watson and Crick
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $8,750Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Song from Moulin Rouge" — Percy FaithBest Picture: From Here to Eternity
1963Turned 40
JFK assassinated in Dallas; Martin Luther King's 'I Have a Dream' speech
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,100Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Sugar Shack" — Jimmy Gilmer & The FireballsBest Picture: Tom Jones
1973Turned 50
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1983Turned 60
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1993Turned 70
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
2003Turned 80
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2008Died at 85
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
Key Achievements
- Won the Senior Jockeys' Premiership in Brisbane in 1943 at the age of 20.
- Forged a dominant partnership with trainer Tommy J. Smith, winning numerous major Australian races.
- Achieved significant international success, including winning the prestigious Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in 1967 on Topyo.
- Served as the stable jockey for the powerful Etienne Pollet stable in France during the mid-1960s.
- Was inducted into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame as one of its inaugural members.
Did You Know?
He was nicknamed 'Cotton Fingers' for his exceptionally gentle hands on the reins.
He once won five feature races on a single race day at Randwick in 1957.
His son, Gary Moore, became a successful jockey and trainer in Hong Kong.
He was awarded an OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) for his services to racing.
“You don't have to be the best jockey, you just have to be on the best horse.”
