Bred with steeplechasing in mind, Neji showed little in two starts on the flat but was arguably the greatest American steeplechaser of the mid-twentieth century. Unflinchingly courageous and capable of carrying crushing weights against the best, he topped his division in three separate years, a feat matched by few and surpassed by just two: four-time champion Flatterer and five-time champion Lonesome Glory. He might well have been champion for four straight years had he not fractured a hind leg in 1956, putting him on the shelf with the important fall events still to come; he was not seen under silks for over a year but set three course records in major events when he returned to racing in the fall of 1957. A brief campaign in England in 1959 proved futile, ending in a tendon injury after three starts, and he was unable to recover his best form in 1960 before being retired.
Race record
49 starts, 17 wins, 11 seconds, 9 thirds, US$270,834
1954:
1955:
1956:
1957:
1958:
1960:
Honors
As an individual
According to Charles Hatton of the Daily Racing Form, Neji was never entirely sound, but the well-balanced chestnut gelding was a sure jumper who seldom put a foot wrong on the race course. Although he was more refined in make than most steeplechasers and was not a particularly big horse (he stood 16.1¾ hands and was lighter on bone than the average ‘chaser, though still quite adequate in that department), he was a great weight carrier, winning under up to 173 pounds, and could handle any sort of going. He was usually at his best when racing from off the pace. He had an excellent shoulder, a round barrel with plenty of heart room, short cannons, and a well-developed stifle but was a trifle short in his front pasterns (though they were correctly angled) and had hocks slightly out behind him. While he had “pig eyes” (smaller than normally considered desirable), he had an intelligent expression and in Hatton’s words, had “a disposition as delightful as a children’s hack.” He was an excellent mover and a fluid, enthusiastic jumper with textbook form over the fences.
Connections
Foaled in Virginia, Neji was bred by Marion duPont Scott. Originally owned by Rigan McKinney after being purchased privately as a weanling, he was sold for US$16,500 to Lillian Bostwick Phipps as a 3-year-old and raced exclusively in her colors. Neji was trained by George H. "Pete" Bostwick through his 6-year-old season and by D. M. "Mike" Smithwick afterward in the USA; he was trained by Daniel L. Moore while in England in 1959. Neji spent most of his retirement at Sunny Bank Farm (the Virginia property of Mike Smithwick’s wife Dot) and died there in 1982.
Pedigree notes
Sired by 1940 Cesarewitch Handicap Stakes winner Hunter’s Moon IV, Neji is outcrossed through five generations. He is a half brother to 1963 American champion grass horse Mongo (by Royal Charger), 1957 Salvator Mile winner Nahodah (by Nasrullah), multiple steeplechase stakes winner Nala (by Nasrullah), steeplechase stakes winner Songai (by Flushing II), and stakes winner Mandingo (by Princequillo). He is also a half brother to Kumasi (by Princequillo), dam of steeplechase stakes winners Kamsin (by Castle Hill II) and Kakanda (by Nashua).
Neji and his siblings were produced from the winner Accra, whose sire Annapolis was a beautiful but wayward son of Man o’ War. A stakes winner both on the flat and over jumps, Annapolis received only limited opportunities at stud but was a highly successful sire of steeplechasers. Accra’s dam Ladala, also a winner, was also sired by a Fair Play-line horse, in her case Ladkin (by Fair Play), whose six stakes wins included the 1924 Dwyer Stakes and the second International Special over Épinard.
The next dam in Neji’s tail-female line is the Broomstick mare Tonala, an unraced half sister to two-time American champion filly Prudery (by Peter Pan), who became the dam of 1927 Kentucky Derby winner Whiskery (by Whisk Broom II), 1928 Preakness Stakes winner Victorian (by Whisk Broom II), and the good stakes winner Halcyon (by Broomstick). Produced from Polly Flinders, Tonala is also a half sister to 1922 Coaching Club American Oaks winner Prudish (by Peter Pan), dam of multiple stakes winner Comstockery (by Chicle), and to Polly Pennant (by Pennant), dam of stakes winner Infinity (by Eternal).
Fun facts
Last updated: December 29, 2023
Race record
49 starts, 17 wins, 11 seconds, 9 thirds, US$270,834
1954:
- Won Belmont National Maiden Hurdle (USA, 14FT, Belmont)
- Won Monmouth National Maiden Hurdle (USA, 14FT, Monmouth)
- Won Saratoga National Maiden Hurdle (USA, 14FT, Saratoga)
- Won Brook Steeplechase Handicap (USA, 20FT, Belmont)
- 2nd Forget Hurdle Handicap (USA, 16FT, Aqueduct)
- 2nd Broad Hollow Steeplechase Handicap (USA, 16FT, Belmont)
- 2nd Temple Gwathmey Steeplechase Handicap (USA, 20FT, Belmont)
- 3rd Amagansett Hurdle Handicap (USA, 14FT, Aqueduct)
- 3rd Lovely Night Hurdle Handicap (USA, 16FT, Saratoga)
1955:
- Won International Steeplechase Handicap (USA, 20FT, Belmont)
- Won Grand National Steeplechase Handicap (USA, 24FT, Belmont)
- Won Brook Steeplechase Handicap (USA, 20FT, Belmont)
- Won Temple Gwathmey Steeplechase Handicap (USA, 20FT, Belmont)
- 2nd Broad Hollow Steeplechase Handicap (USA, 16FT, Belmont)
- 3rd Corinthian Steeplechase Handicap (USA, 16FT, Belmont)
- 3rd Meadowbrook Steeplechase Handicap (USA, 20FT, Belmont)
1956:
- Won Meadow Brook Steeplechase Handicap (USA, 20FT, Belmont)
- Won Indian River Steeplechase Handicap (USA, 20FT, Delaware Park)
- 3rd Georgetown Steeplechase Handicap (USA, 16FT, Delaware Park)
1957:
- Won Temple Gwathmey Steeplechase Handcap (USA, 20FT, Belmont; new course record 4:42-2/5)
- Won Grand National Steeplechase Handicap (USA, 25FT, Belmont; new course record 6:15-1/5)
- Won Brook Steeplechase Handicap (USA, 20FT, Belmont; new course record 4:45-1/5)
1958:
- Won Grand National Steeplechase Handicap (USA, 25FT, Belmont; new course record 6:06)
- 2nd Temple Gwathmey Steeplechase Handicap (USA, 20FT, Belmont)
- 3rd Brook Steeplechase Handicap (USA, 20FT, Belmont)
1960:
- 2nd Harbor Hill Steeplechase Handicap (USA, 16FT, Aqueduct)
Honors
- National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame (inducted in 1966)
- Aiken Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame (inducted in 1977)
- American champion steeplechaser (1955, 1957, 1958)
As an individual
According to Charles Hatton of the Daily Racing Form, Neji was never entirely sound, but the well-balanced chestnut gelding was a sure jumper who seldom put a foot wrong on the race course. Although he was more refined in make than most steeplechasers and was not a particularly big horse (he stood 16.1¾ hands and was lighter on bone than the average ‘chaser, though still quite adequate in that department), he was a great weight carrier, winning under up to 173 pounds, and could handle any sort of going. He was usually at his best when racing from off the pace. He had an excellent shoulder, a round barrel with plenty of heart room, short cannons, and a well-developed stifle but was a trifle short in his front pasterns (though they were correctly angled) and had hocks slightly out behind him. While he had “pig eyes” (smaller than normally considered desirable), he had an intelligent expression and in Hatton’s words, had “a disposition as delightful as a children’s hack.” He was an excellent mover and a fluid, enthusiastic jumper with textbook form over the fences.
Connections
Foaled in Virginia, Neji was bred by Marion duPont Scott. Originally owned by Rigan McKinney after being purchased privately as a weanling, he was sold for US$16,500 to Lillian Bostwick Phipps as a 3-year-old and raced exclusively in her colors. Neji was trained by George H. "Pete" Bostwick through his 6-year-old season and by D. M. "Mike" Smithwick afterward in the USA; he was trained by Daniel L. Moore while in England in 1959. Neji spent most of his retirement at Sunny Bank Farm (the Virginia property of Mike Smithwick’s wife Dot) and died there in 1982.
Pedigree notes
Sired by 1940 Cesarewitch Handicap Stakes winner Hunter’s Moon IV, Neji is outcrossed through five generations. He is a half brother to 1963 American champion grass horse Mongo (by Royal Charger), 1957 Salvator Mile winner Nahodah (by Nasrullah), multiple steeplechase stakes winner Nala (by Nasrullah), steeplechase stakes winner Songai (by Flushing II), and stakes winner Mandingo (by Princequillo). He is also a half brother to Kumasi (by Princequillo), dam of steeplechase stakes winners Kamsin (by Castle Hill II) and Kakanda (by Nashua).
Neji and his siblings were produced from the winner Accra, whose sire Annapolis was a beautiful but wayward son of Man o’ War. A stakes winner both on the flat and over jumps, Annapolis received only limited opportunities at stud but was a highly successful sire of steeplechasers. Accra’s dam Ladala, also a winner, was also sired by a Fair Play-line horse, in her case Ladkin (by Fair Play), whose six stakes wins included the 1924 Dwyer Stakes and the second International Special over Épinard.
The next dam in Neji’s tail-female line is the Broomstick mare Tonala, an unraced half sister to two-time American champion filly Prudery (by Peter Pan), who became the dam of 1927 Kentucky Derby winner Whiskery (by Whisk Broom II), 1928 Preakness Stakes winner Victorian (by Whisk Broom II), and the good stakes winner Halcyon (by Broomstick). Produced from Polly Flinders, Tonala is also a half sister to 1922 Coaching Club American Oaks winner Prudish (by Peter Pan), dam of multiple stakes winner Comstockery (by Chicle), and to Polly Pennant (by Pennant), dam of stakes winner Infinity (by Eternal).
Fun facts
- Neji was the world’s leading money-winner among steeplechasers at the time of his retirement. His earnings record stood for 22 yerars until surpassed by Zaccio, another three-time American champion.
Last updated: December 29, 2023