‘One of life’s gentlemen’ – millionaire horse owner’s incredible gesture leaves racing fans in awe
AN UNHERALDED horse owner has been hailed as ‘one of life’s gentleman’ – after he gave use of his private helicopter to a trainer so he could visit his critically ill son in hospital.
Gary Moore regularly made the 500-mile round-trip from his Sussex base to Merseyside to be beside son Josh.
The jockey broke his leg, several ribs, punctured a lung and damaged his lower back in a fall at Haydock last April.
While recovering he contracted a life-threatening illness and was placed in intensive care, needing a ventilator to breathe.
Big-hearted Pat Gallagher, an owner with Moore, let the trainer use his helicopter whenever he wanted so he could be beside his son.
Now Moore wants to repay Gallagher for his help by giving him his first Grade 1 winner.
Authorised Speed is 7-4 favourite for the Tolworth Hurdle at Sandown on Saturday.
And Moore said: “Pat is an unbelievable man and he was so helpful when Josh was in hospital. He is such a kind and generous man.
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“I don’t know how many times I went to Liverpool in the helicopter to see Josh, it must have been six or seven times and that is not cheap to do that.
“It saved a lot of time and headaches on the road to fly me and Phoebe, Josh’s partner, up there.
“It was a massive help and he couldn’t have done any more.
“I could never do enough for him and to get him a Grade 1 winner would be fantastic.
“He has had a few Flat horses with me before and he is very grateful for everything you give him, but a Grade 1 winner really would put the icing on the cake as a way of thanks.”
For his part, Irish construction tycoon Gallagher said: “I’d do anything for that family. They’re the loveliest family you could ever meet.
“I said to Dan the pilot that this was all we could do for the family.”
Racing fans were bowled over with Gallagher’s kindness.
One described him as ‘one of life’s gentlemen’ while another said: “Some people deserve to be rich.”
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