Karl Neisius – end of an era
Karl Neisius has decided to hang up his boots on medical advice after inflammation and osteoporosis in his back have kept him out of the saddle since his last winner on September 12, writes Michael Clower.
Neisius, 58, said: “The doctors told me that if I carry on my back is going to deteriorate more and they have medically boarded me, saying I am unable to do my job.
“I am very disappointed because I thought I would be able to resume race-riding but it would be silly to ride when my insurance might not be valid.”
A few years ago the nine-time Cape champion was talking of training – with a maximum of 40 horses – when the time came but, now that it has, he is not so sure.
He said: “Really, I’ve got no idea what I will do. I’ve got to get through the present stage first.”
Born in Wales, he moved to South Africa with his riding school-instructor mother and step-father when he was seven. He was apprenticed to Ralph Rixon and rode his first winner on his boss’s Glad Rag Doll at Kenilworth in March 1973. He rode his 3 000th winner on the Dean Kannemeyer-trained Cape Royal there in April 2012.
Some 55 of his 3 200-plus winners have been in Grade 1s, most notably the 1991 Durban July on Flaming Rock.
Looking back over his career he said: “All my Grade 1 wins were special and the Queen’s Plates were huge. Dynasty was probably the most amazing horse I rode and probably the one with the most potential.”
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