Henry Byron Moore never considered himself an expert on thoroughbred racing; yet he served as Secretary of the VRC for 44 years, from 1839 to 1925, with the greatest distinction.

Moore was a man of wide culture, a successful financier and stockbroker, and a businessman with extensive entrepreneurial interests. As such he was an ideal man to build on Robert Bagot's foundations and make Flemington the marvel of the age. Among his achievements were expanded and new grandstands, a ladies area with splendidly fitted retiring rooms and a refreshment area, an extended railway platform and imposing members' drive, the beautification of the course with rose plantings which remain a feature up to the present day, and the publication of a Racing Calendar with information on forthcoming meetings. His entrepreneurial skills were seen in the new emphasis he created for Oaks Day. Having overheard a group of ladies complain that Cup Day was too crowded to show off their fashionable clothes, Moore reasoned that Oaks Day could become Ladies' Day – fillies and fashion went well together! Moore called on every newspaper editor in Melbourne, and persuaded them that by presenting Oaks Day as a high fashion day, they would increase their circulation. Within two years, Oaks Day had become the fashion event of the year.

On Moore's death in 1925 the Herald commented on the respect in which he was held by the community: “He was as much at home with the polished sections of Society as he was with the lesser ones. Perhaps there is no better proof of this than the way he was treated by trainers and jockeys…They accepted him as an advisor and friend whose word they could trust implicitly. When they raised their hats or caps to him, it was not done just because he was the Secretary of the VRC, but out of the respect they held for the man”.

Henry Byron Moore was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2010.

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