JOCKEY Jamie Moore retired this week struggling to understand why so many of us wanted to make a fuss over him.
But as tributes and reflections poured in for the seven-time Grade 1 and Champion Chase-winning rider he was surely left in no doubt over the mark his skills in the saddle have left on the sport.
I found out at Lingfield on Monday from Jamie’s father, Gary, that doctors had told him not to ride again after a horror fall at Lingfield in November.
My Saturday NAP
IRISH HILL (2.25 Ascot)
Won this last season and has dropped to a mark 3lb lower now. He’s trained by a master in Paul Nicholls.
Of course the same fate had befallen his brother, Josh, when he nearly died when he crashed to the ground at Haydock in 2022.
Jamie wanted to release a statement, but we came to an agreement that I could interview him beforehand and our chat could be aired on Sky Sports Racing following his press release.
At the time I suggested to Jamie I might want to talk to those closest to him, to which he said: “There’s no need for that is there?”
Referencing his brother, Ryan, accepted as the most talented Flat rider on the planet, Jamie added: “I mean, it’s not as if I’m Ryan.”
I knew right then that either Jamie had no idea how good a jockey he had been, or if he did then he had absolutely zero understanding of what the public think about him.
You see, quite simply Moore gave every ride everything.
He lifted animals over the line, like Horus one day for Martin Pipe at Ascot, and Fruity O’Rooney and Lajidaal both at Fontwell for his dad.
If you don’t believe me dig their races out and have a look. Awesome.
When Martin Pipe saddled ten runners (as my photo below shows) in a handicap hurdle at Taunton in 2003 it was Moore, claiming 7lb, who came out on top in a field featuring AP McCoy, Ruby Walsh, Richard Johnson and Noel Fehily.
Very early on punters knew what they were going to get with Jamie. And that was 100 per cent.
It didn’t matter if it was Sire du Grugy in the Queen Mother Champion Chase, or a seller at Newton Abbot.
Moore would lift his mounts over the line as if his life depended on it.
Doctors decided, though, that he might lose his life if he continued.
He said to me: “It wasn’t the neck brakes that ended me. My head has a scattering of brain bleeds which is what’s stopped me.”
Thank goodness it has. Jamie is a thoroughly decent bloke. Remember he was the rider that was smashed up in the turf at Fontwell in 2021, his sternum broken.
When the ambulance crew come to his aid, Jamie’s first thoughts were that it was a Tuesday.
And that was important, because every Tuesday his wife, Lucie, was in hospital for on-going treatment. Their three kids would be at home.
So there he was, with serious injuries and the pain kicking in, and all he could think about was his family.
As a result, Moore insisted the ambulance took him to Brighton, instead of Chichester, to be close to them. That’s a proper fella.
Jamie’s kids Lola, Roxy and Kenny might all be jockeys one day. If they do take that route they will do so in the knowledge their dad was a class act in every sense.
It’s odd how things work out, but this weekend is a huge one for the Moore family, with Jamie’s old pal Goshen, the horse who tripped up with the Triumph Hurdle at his mercy, heading for the Grade 2 Jennings Bet Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton, live on ITV.
Goshen has blinkers on first time and, apparently, he’s been like a rocket in them at home.
Let’s hope he’s a rocket that takes off safely and comes home with no issues.
Then there is Salver, an unbeaten youngster who heads for the Virgin Bet Victor Ludorum Juvenile Hurdle at Haydock.
The mudlover is unbeaten in three runs over jumps and looks a star in the making. He has conditions in his favour.
That’s not all. Teddy Blue has an each way chance in the Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards Handicap Hurdle at Ascot, and Botox Has a strong say in the Grade 2 Virgin Bet Rendlesham Hurdle at Haydock.
That’s not even to mention old favourites like Larry and Full Back who are also set to strut their stuff.
It means Jamie Moore has no time to think about the past. And his future alongside Gary and Josh will be a busy one.
You can’t have enough Moores.
A responsible gambler is someone who:
