Born in Mackay, Queensland, in 1923, George Moore learned his trade on rough country tracks up north before teaming up with trainer T.J. (Tommy) Smith in 1949, forming one of the most successful trainer-jockey combinations in Australian racing history. After being apprenticed in Brisbane in 1938, Moore won the jockeys’ premiership in Brisbane in 1943, and went on to be recognised as premier jockey in Sydney ten times between 1957 and 1969.

Moore rode the winners of most of Australia’s great races, some on several occasions. His amazing record was exemplified when he rode 15 winners over four days at the 1969 Randwick Easter meeting, and 11 winners at the 1964 AJC Spring meeting. He won five AJC and two VRC Derbies, as well as two W.S. Cox Plates, three Sydney Cups and two Golden Slippers. His tally of 119 Group One victories stands as an Australian record.

In England, Moore won the English Derby at Epsom, King George and Queen Elizabeth stakes, the 2000 Guineas twice, the 1000 Guineas, the Coronation and Ascot Gold Cups and the Gimcrack and Champagne stakes. He won the Arc De Triomphe and the Derby in France, and the San Diego Stakes in the US. Widely regarded as Australia’s greatest jockey, his name will always be linked in racing circles with the legendary Tulloch, which he rode in 19 of the horse’s 36 wins.

Moore’s last race ride was a victory on Classic Mission in the 1971 VRC Derby. He later became the leading trainer in Hong Kong for 11 out of 13 years, before retiring to the Gold Coast. His achievements in racing were acknowledged with the introduction of the George Moore Medal, which is presented annually to Sydney’s outstanding jockey. In 1972, Moore became an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his services to racing.