I just saw this through a friend on FB - I knew Myles briefly when he was up here in Canada a number of years ago. As well as passing along his obituary, I am also including a beautiful tribute his son included. I don’t know his son, so I hope I am not overstepping - but I feel that it is lovely and deserves to be shared.
Gallop on, Myles. Gallop on.
[I]My father, Myles Neff, passed away Thursday evening. His love and
passion for the wonderful world of horse racing was immense. He lived
and breathed it every day of his life. If it weren’t for him, I would never have been introduced to the sport. In many many ways he inspired
me to do this documentary, JOCK, about the pioneer female jockeys.
The love, the passion, the pain, the struggle and all that’s in
between that I felt and saw from him for the sport, I saw and admired
in these women. It’s that very essence that has driven me to want to
tell their story. He may not realize it, but he gave me such a wonderful gift that I’ll never really know how to thank him enough other than to say; Thank you Dad. I love you.
Micanopy, FL. – Myles Neff, age 66, passed away on Thursday, July 7,
2011. He was born November 2, 1944, in Wyndotte, Michigan, the son of
the late Myles E. Neff and Elsie F. Neff. A third generation horseman,
Myles had a life-long love of horses. He rode his first Thoroughbred
racehorse at the age of eight, and became a professional jockey at the
age of 15, riding primarily at tracks on the East Coast from 1960 to
1972. After retiring from race riding, he was one of the early
exercise riders of Riva Ridge and the great Secretariat. Shortly
thereafter, he started his career as a trainer. From 1979 until 2004,
Myles and his former wife, Carol, owned and operated the Renasance
Training Center, a full-service training facility in Ocala.
Myles continued to break, train, gallop and breeze his own horses
until shortly before his passing. 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’, the Lost Art of Race
Riding,” which is in the final stages of production and will be
released later this year.
Myles possessed incredible strength, courage and determination. His
wisdom, wit and grace brought positive changes to the lives of many,
and he will be greatly missed by all those who knew and loved him.
Myles is survived by his mother, Elsie F. Neff of Lakeland, FL; his
brother, Bruce Neff of Hallandale, FL; his son, Jason Neff of Los
Angeles; and his beloved partner, Mary McDuffie of Micanopy, FL.[/I]
