Apprentice jockey Izzy Neale has died at 22 after suffering critical injuries in a fall at the Warren Shire Cotton Cup in New South Wales.
Neale was riding Marnoo in the 1,600-metre race on Sunday, November 8, when the horse faltered near the home straight and she fell. She was treated at the track and flown to Dubbo Hospital, where she remained in critical condition. Her family and Racing NSW announced her death on November 10.
Marnoo also suffered a serious leg injury and was euthanized. The remaining race on the Warren program was abandoned.
Family remembers her love of horses
Neale’s family said she had been passionate about horses since childhood and had recently grown to love racing. They thanked the racing community and medical staff for their support, and asked for privacy as they grieve.
The family also shared that Neale’s organ donation would give others the chance of life, offering some comfort amid their loss.
Tributes from the racing community
Neale began competing in 2024 and recorded 88 wins from 699 starts. Trainer John Thompson remembered her as a joyful, much-loved young woman, while the Australian Trainers’ Association said her death had deeply affected people across the industry.
Neale’s family, friends and fellow riders are mourning a young jockey whose life and career ended far too soon.