Adrienne Marie Moore, daughter of Violet Claire Dixon and Jacques Francois Haest, was born in Coral Gables Florida in 1937, passed quietly the night of October 15th at the age of 89 following a difficult year of health struggles which she faced with admirable strength and not an ounce of self pity.

Equipped with great self confidence, courage and a sense she could do anything she put her mind to, and to which she most often succeeded, she became the third woman licensed racing thoroughbred trainer in the country after a racing steward tried to deny her the chance to take the test—to which she scored 100%. She would go on to become a multi stakes winning trainer, almost qualifying for the Derby twice. Just part of her trail blazing career and life. She was an entrepreneur starting several businesses and a natural leader, captain of her women’s basketball team at a mere 5’4”. She was a natural athlete also playing softball, golf, horseback riding and a state champion clogging dancer. 

Following the death of her beloved father she started working as an early teenager and never stopped. She was resilient and never let any adverse situation conquer her. Despite working harder than any man she always remained graceful and elegant. She would serve you tea on a tray and always had a great sense of personal style. Her later in life favored cowgirl outfits, snow white hair twisted into braids, lovely hazel eyes and contagious enthusiasm would brighten anyone’s day. Her natural charm made her liked by all. Her love of life made everyone smile.

She was filmed in several scenes in the heart moving 1979 movie The Champ starring, John Voight, which centered around the world of horse racing. In the role of trainer for Faye Dunaway’s friend “Dolly”, she can be seen saddling a horse prior to the main race scene in her flame red hair in her signature French twist, beautiful pantsuit and platform heels, always maintaining her sense of style. The majority of the horses used in the film were hers except one which a replacement for her Just a Bella horse who kept running to the lead, despite the directors wishes, requiring a slower replacement player. As sportswriter Art Grace commented, “Adrienne Moore knows how to pick a winner.”

In addition to horse racing and breeding her other great passion was nutrition. She had over a 1,000 books on the subject and read incessantly, always having open or booked marked pages positioned on any surface. She championed natural healing through foods over medicine. She was also interested in science and mechanics, always ahead of her time. She loved new ideas. Knowledge was fuel for her.

Balancing all of this with also being a loving mother of six daughters, most often as a single mother who would make you strawberry pancakes to make you feel better and encouraged you to follow your own talents and do what you loved. Among her many favored repeated sayings, she would advise, “You need to make yourself happy every day.”

A woman of fearlessness, grace, beauty, intelligence and great strength, her enormous presence will be greatly missed by her family. She is survived by her equally elegant half sister Blanche Denihan and six daughters and their spouses, Renee Crooke, Tina Mantiega, Georgette (Luke) Poulos, Adrienne bon Haes, Bella DiGiacomo and Debra (Bram) Wiseberg and 20 grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Arrangements entrusted to Boyd-Panciera Family Funeral Care, 1600 N. University Drive, Pembroke Pines, Florida 33024.