Apprentice jockey Izzy Neale has died following a fall at a regional racecourse.
Neale’s family and Racing NSW confirmed on Tuesday that Neale had passed away at the age of 22, after a fall during Sunday’s meet at Warren in country New South Wales.
The 22-year-old Merriwa-born apprentice jockey “lost consciousness” after she was dislodged from her horse, Marnoo, some 400 metres into the Warren Shire Cotton Cup race. She was rushed to hospital and placed on life support. She tragically passed away on Tuesday evening.
“It is with deep sadness and broken hearts that we announce the passing of our beloved Izzy, surrounded by her closest family and friends,” her family said in a statement Tuesday.
“Izzy rode horses before she could walk. Her love of horses was a lifelong passion that, more recently, had grown into a love of racing.
“Through organ donation, Izzy will give others the chance of life, bringing some comfort to our family amid this devastating loss.
“We are deeply grateful for the love, kindness and support shown to Izzy and our family by her friends, the racing community and everyone who has been by our side during this heartbreaking time.
“We would like to thank Racing NSW and the NSW Jockeys Association for their care, compassion and support during this incredibly difficult time.
“We also extend our heartfelt thanks to the medical staff who cared for Izzy with such compassion.
“As we come to terms with our loss, we ask that our family’s privacy be respected.
“Izzy was dearly loved and will forever be in our hearts.”
The six-year-old gelding Neale was riding, Marnoo, was euthanased after sustaining a foreleg injury in the fall, which happened during the sixth race on the Warren program.
The last race at the meet was abandoned after the accident. Monday’s meeting at Scone in the Hunter Valley was also postponed after meetings between officials, jockeys, and trainers.
Her death was the first racing fatality recorded in NSW since 2017, when Darren Jones passed away after suffering head injuries at Warialda after a three-horse fall.
Neale was apprenticed to Scone trainer Scott Singleton and had ridden as many as 88 winners during her early career. She recorded her maiden victory in her first ride, on Scruff’s Maagic at Condobolin in 2024.
Jockeys wore black armbands in Race 5 at Balaklava today to honour Izzy.
