Born Redcliffe WA
13 September 1925 – 14 may 1992
Frank Moore reigned as one of Western Australia’s foremost jockeys in a career spanning 35 years, posting more than 2000 winners.
“Tiger”, as he was always known, started as an apprentice just before World War II and retired in 1974, winning the WA jockey’s premiership eight times.
He had his first winning ride on Marbury in the 1941 Coolgardie Cup and won his first premiership in the 1945-46 season.
Moore’s biggest wins were the 1956 Perth Cup on Elmsfield, the 1953 Railway Stakes on Earl James and the 1954 Queen’s Cup double – in Adelaide on WA horse Sir Coral and in Perth on Nanna Tale.
Moore had a fine record in classic races, winning the WA Derby seven times, the WA St Leger nine times, the Karrakatta Plate five times, the Oaks Stakes eight times, the Sire’s Produce Stakes six times, the WA Guineas four times and the Queens Plate four times.
He also won many other feature races including the Helena Vale Cup three times, the Kalgoorlie Cup three times, the Boulder Cup two times, the Hannans Handicap three times, the CC Cox Stakes eight times, the Easter Handicap two times and the Easter Cup three times.
Moore’s success was achieved despite a constant battle against weight. He frequently had to shed up to 12lb (6kg) to ride at the correct weight, but he bowed out on a typically high note with a win in the 1974 St Leger on Our Pocket.
Moore won several races on the great WA galloper Aquanita and had the mount when he was third in the 1962 Melbourne Cup. Moore regarded Aquanita as the best horse of the thousands he rode.
Moore also rode with success in Malaysia and won races in all Australian States except New South Wales. He rejected lucrative offers to ride in England, Ireland and India in order to remain with his family in Perth.
Only 5ft 2in (1.58m) tall, Moore was a master of tactics and timing and was noted for his superb balance in the saddle and his astute judgment of pace.