“SHE RODE HORSES BEFORE SHE COULD WALK”: 22-YEAR-OLD JOCKEY IZZY NEALE diᩚєs AFTER HORRIFIC RACE FALL — HER FINAL GIFT WILL SAVE LIVES

The Australian horse racing community is mourning the heartbreaking loss of apprentice jockey Izzy Neale, who has died at just 22 after suffering ᑕriᩚtiᩚcal injuries in a race fall.

Neale passed away on November 10, surrounded by her closest family and friends, after spending days in hospital following the devastating incident at Warren Racecourse in New South Wales.

Her family confirmed the news in an emotional statement released through Racing NSW, describing themselves as “deeply saddened and broken-hearted”.

But amid their unimaginable grief, they shared one final act of generosity: Izzy’s organs would be donated, giving other people the chance to live.

A lifelong love of horses

For Izzy, horses were never simply a career. They had been part of her life since childhood.

“Izzy rode horses before she could walk,” her family said.

Her passion gradually developed into a love of competitive racing, and she worked hard to establish herself as a professional jockey.

Originally from Merriwa in the Upper Hunter region of New South Wales, Neale became an apprentice rider in 2024.

She recorded 88 winners from 699 career starts, building a reputation as a determined and talented young competitor.

One of her major milestones came in July 2026, when she secured her first metropolitan victory at Rosehill Gardens aboard It’s A Tata.

Those who worked alongside her remembered a young woman whose smile, kindness and enthusiasm made a lasting impression.

The race that changed everything

The tᩚraɢedy unfolded during the Warren Shire Cotton Cup on Sunday, November 8.

Neale was riding a six-year-old horse named Marnoo in a 1,600-metre race when the horse suffered a serious injury and fell near the 400-metre mark.

The fall also involved fellow jockey Diego Montes de Oca, who was thrown from his horse, Shadow Dane.

Neale suffered ᑕriᩚtiᩚcal head injuries and was treated by medical personnel at the racecourse before being airlifted to Dubbo Hospital.

She remained in ᑕriᩚtiᩚcal condition, surrounded by family and receiving medical care.

Marnoo suffered a severe injury to his near foreleg and was later euthanised.

The final race of the Warren meeting was abandoned following the incident.

A decision that will give others hope

Despite the devastating loss, Neale’s family made a decision that has touched people throughout the racing community.

Through organ donation, Izzy will give others the chance of life.

Her family said the decision would bring them some comfort during an incredibly painful time.

In their statement, they expressed gratitude to the friends, colleagues and members of the racing industry who had supported them.

They also thanked Racing NSW, the NSW Jockeys Association and the medical professionals who cared for Izzy.

The family asked for privacy as they begin to come to terms with their loss.

“She was loved by everyone who met her”

Tributes have poured in from trainers, fellow jockeys, racing organisations and people who knew Neale throughout her career.

Trainer John Thompson remembered her as an “absolute beacon of shining light”, describing her as hardworking, beautiful in spirit, always happy and always smiling.

Trainer Scott Singleton, who had worked closely with her, also spoke of her kindness and generosity.

He said she was the kind of young person he hoped his own daughter would grow up to be.

The Australian racing community has expressed its condolences to her family, remembering a young rider whose future had seemed full of promise.

A legacy beyond the racetrack

Izzy Neale’s career was only beginning. At 22, she had already achieved 88 race victories and reached a major milestone in metropolitan racing.

She had so much more life ahead of her, so many more races to ride and so many dreams still waiting to be fulfilled.

Her family now faces a loss that words cannot fully describe.

But through her final act of generosity, Izzy’s story will continue in the lives of others.

She loved horses before she could walk. She found her calling in the saddle. And even in her final moments, she gave others a chance at life.