Craig Kerry
Updated ,first published
Apprentice jockey Izzy Neale has died at age 22 following a fall at Warren on Sunday.
Neale had been in a critical condition since the shocking fall, which happened after the Kieren Hazelton-trained Marnoo faltered near the 400m mark of the Cotton Cup.
Neale fell heavily and was unconscious when airlifted to Dubbo Hospital. Marnoo was euthanised after suffering a near foreleg injury.
Neale’s family released a statement late on Tuesday saying she was “dearly loved and will forever be in our hearts”.
“It was with great sadness and broken hearts that we announce the passing of our beloved Izzy, surrounded by her closest family and friends,” it read.
“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.
“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.”
The family thanked Racing NSW, the NSW Jockeys’ Association and medical staff for their support. They said Neale, through organ donation, will give others the chance of life and bring some comfort to them amid the devastating loss.
Neale, who hailed from Merriwa in the Upper Hunter, was working for Scone trainer Scott Singleton, and had 88 winners in a professional racing career that started in February 2024.
“She was the nicest kid you would ever meet. We are heartbroken,” Singleton said.
Neale also spent time under Randwick trainer John Thompson, who posted: “An absolute beacon of shining light. Always happy. Always smiling. Loved by everyone who met her. The world is poorer for the loss of a beautiful young lady. Heartbreaking.”
Neale had ridden in Sydney 11 times and won a Highway Handicap on It’s A Tata for Brett Robb at Rosehill in July.
Racing NSW called off Monday’s meeting at Neale’s home track of Scone out of respect for the rider. That meeting will now be held on Wednesday.
Diego Montes de Oca, who was riding Shadow Dane, was dislodged shortly after Neale’s fall and taken to hospital by ambulance. He sustained soft tissue injuries to his left foot and was discharged from hospital on Monday. The remaining race on Sunday’s program was abandoned.
Neale’s death is the first of a jockey from a race fall in NSW since 2017 at Warialda, when Darren Jones succumbed to his injuries.
Frenchwoman Marina Morel died after a trackwork fall at Gulgong in February 2022. In March 2024, Italian jockey Stefano Cherchi died from a race fall at Canberra.
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