Australian jockey Izzy Neale has died after a fall during a race in rural New South Wales.
Neale, 22, was competing in the Warren Shire Cotton Cup on Sunday, November 8, when she was thrown from her horse, Marnoo, mid-race. She lost consciousness at the scene and was airlifted to a hospital in Dubbo, where she was placed on life support before passing away.
“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 and Racing NSW said in a joint statement. “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.”
The family confirmed that Neale’s organs would be donated, giving “others the chance of life, bringing some comfort to our family amid this devastating loss.”
Trainer John Thompson, whom Neale had worked for, paid tribute in a written statement. “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,” Thompson added.
The Australian Trainers’ Association also issued a statement on the loss. “In the days ahead, racing will return to its familiar rhythms. For those who loved Izzy, everything will be different,” the group wrote. “Our responsibility to care for them must continue long after the tributes have quietened. On behalf of our members across Australia, we will remember Izzy, the life she was building and the people who will always be missing her.”
Neale had broken onto the amateur racing scene in 2024 and had accumulated 88 races and 699 career starts. The Cotton Cup was abandoned following the incident.
Neale was not the only rider injured during the race. Senior jockey Diego Montes de Oca also fell from his horse and was taken to the same Dubbo hospital, where he was diagnosed with a suspected broken foot.
Marnoo, Neale’s horse, was euthanized after suffering a serious leg injury during the fall, according to BBC Sport.
The family thanked supporters in their statement. “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,” they wrote. “We also extend our heartfelt thanks to the medical staff who cared for Izzy with such compassion.” The statement concluded with a request for privacy and a final remembrance: “Izzy was dearly loved and will forever be in our hearts.”