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Retired jockey Neff dies at 66

Posted: Wednesday, July 13, 2011 11:14 AM

by Cynthia McFarland

Longtime Ocala horseman and retired jockey Myles Neff died at the age of 66 after a battle against metastatic melanoma on July 7.

A native of Wyndotte, Michigan, Neff was a third-generation horseman and the son of the late Myles E. Neff and Elsie F. Neff. He rode his first Thoroughbred racehorse at the age of eight, and became a professional jockey at 15, riding primarily at tracks in the Eastern U.S. from 1960 to 1972.

After retiring from race riding, he was one of the early exercise riders of Riva Ridge and Secretariat. Myles then launched his own career as a trainer. Shortly thereafter, from 1979 through 2004, he and his former wife, Carol, owned and operated The Renasance, a full-service training facility in Ocala.

Myles continued to break, train, gallop, and breeze his own horses until shortly before his death. He was the only person in North America accredited by the American Riding Instructors Association (ARIA) to teach flat-race riding. Myles devoted his life to the study of jockey style and technique. His trademark precision and passion for the subject are evident in his book, Stylin’: Reviving the Lost Art of Race Riding, which is in the final stages of production and will be released later this year.

In lieu of flowers, it was Myles’ request that contributions be sent to his son Jason’s documentary-in-progress, entitled “Jock,” which details the triumphs and struggles of the pioneer female jockeys who fought for the right to ride. Contributions can be made at www.Jockthemovie.com.

Cynthia McFarland is a freelance writer based in Fairfield, Florida