19 January 2023 , 12:12
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Popular jump jockey Josh Moore has come to terms with the fact he will never be able to ride in a race again as a result of the fall that put him in hospital for several months.
Moore broke his leg, several ribs, suffered a punctured lung and damaged his lower back when the horse he was riding came down and fell on top of him at Haydock in April last year.
Then he developed a life-threatening infection, as a result of which he was sedated and put on a ventilator to help him breathe. He did not leave hospital and return home until July. During his recuperation he has been assisting his father Gary at the family’s stables in Sussex and has now accepted his successful career in the saddle is over.
“Unfortunately I don’t think I would pass any tests to get back now,” he said in an interview with Sky Sports Racing.
“I’ve accepted it fine because when I was in hospital, all the nurses were like, ‘You’ve got to stop’. If that’s not enough of a message then you need your head properly looking at because you really need to stop. I was always prepared that any ride could be your last ride.”
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He went on: “I miss it. I hadn’t missed it until I was at Sandown on Tingle Creek day. Tingle Creek was one of my favourite meetings to ride at. Good racing, good track and we have a lovely win there called Authorised Speed. Seeing him win there I thought ‘I wish I that was me there today’.”
Moore has now set his sights on possibly taking over the licence at the yard when his father retires.
“I will carry on helping Dad out for the time being and then perhaps one day in the future, Dad might hand on the licence to me which I think I’ll be quite ready for because I’ve had a big involvement in the yard for a long time now.
“I’ve always had a keen interest at the sales with Dad in the past and with entries being made and where horses should run or not run so hopefully it will carry on like that.”
Moore, the brother of jockeys Ryan and Jamie and broadcaster Hayley, rode more than 250 winners over jumps and enjoyed his best season in 2020-21 when he partnered 40 winners.
His major wins include the 2015 Betfair Hurdle on Violet Dancer and the same year's Henry VIII Novices' Chase on Ar Mad.