JOCKEY Racheal Kneller has retired from the saddle stating she has not recovered from a head trauma sustained in 2020.
Kneller, who rode 47 winners, said she would not be able to pass the relevant fitness tests to return to action.
Kneller has faced a number of serious injuries in recent years, which meant she has only picked up seven winners since 2015.
She rode 36 times through 2019 but has only had one ride since.
Kneller might be best known for picking up a last minute hurdles spare at Lingfield in 2019 after a desperate Twitter plea that she went on to win on.
Kneller said: “I’m devastated to make this decision, but I won’t be returning to a racecourse.
“The symptoms causing me to fail a concussion test needed for racing, have sadly not improved.
“My specialist said I won’t race this year, with no certainty that I will have made any further improvements next year either.
“I need to accept that the effects of my head trauma in 2020 may well be permanent now.
“I am totally gutted, but I fell extremely lucky that it wasn’t worse.
“I can still ride horses, which is a huge relief. Horses are my life and have been since I could walk.”
Kneller previously retired in 2015 where she cited a lack of opportunity and claimed some trainers didn’t want females riding their horses.
She also criticised the opportunity given to Victoria Pendleton to ride at the time.
What a great career I’ve had as a jockey, but it’s time for the next chapter of my life.
Thanks everyone.
pic.twitter.com/gZaeMKzK4n
— ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
? ? ? ? ? ? ? (@jockeyrach) May 24, 2021
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