Australian apprentice jockey Izzy Neale has died aged 22 following a serious race fall at Warren Racecourse in New South Wales on Sunday, November 8, 2026, bringing a promising riding career to a heartbreaking end and leaving Australia’s racing community mourning her loss.

Neale was riding six-year-old gelding Marnoo in the 1,600-metre Warren Shire Cotton Cup when the horse suffered a serious injury and she was dislodged near the 400-metre mark. The young jockey fell heavily and lost consciousness.

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Emergency medical personnel attended to Neale before she was airlifted to Dubbo Hospital in a critical condition. Despite medical efforts, she died on Tuesday, November 10, surrounded by her family and close friends.

Her family confirmed the news in a statement released through Racing NSW, expressing their devastation while remembering a young woman whose affection for horses had shaped much of her life.

“It is with deep sadness and broken hearts that we announce the passing of our beloved Izzy, surrounded by her closest family and friends,” the family said.

The statement offered a glimpse into Neale’s lifelong connection with horses, describing a passion that began long before she entered professional racing.

“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 added.

In a particularly moving gesture, the family also confirmed that Neale would become an organ donor, allowing others the opportunity to receive life-saving support despite the devastating circumstances surrounding her death.

“Through organ donation, Izzy will give others the chance of life, bringing some comfort to our family amid this devastating loss,” the statement said.

Neale’s death has prompted an outpouring of tributes from across the Australian racing industry, with colleagues and organisations remembering her as a cheerful, dedicated rider whose potential extended well beyond her young age.

The Australian Turf Club described her as a “talented young rider with a bright future”, acknowledging her contribution to the sport and extending condolences to her family, friends and fellow jockeys.

Trainer John Thompson also paid an emotional tribute, remembering Neale for the warmth and positivity she brought to those around her.

“An absolute beacon of shining light. Always happy. Always smiling. Loved by everyone who met her,” Thompson wrote in a message shared on X.

“The world is poorer for the loss of a beautiful young lady. Heartbreaking.”

Neale turned professional in February 2024 and recorded 88 winners from 699 career rides, an impressive early record for a jockey whose career was still developing.

She secured her first race victory on her professional debut aboard Scruff’s Maagic at Condobolin in 2024.

Her progress subsequently took her to Sydney’s metropolitan racing circuit, where she achieved a notable victory aboard It’s A Tata in a Highway Handicap at Rosehill Gardens in July 2026.

Originally from Merriwa in New South Wales’ Upper Hunter region, Neale was apprenticed to Scone trainer Scott Singleton. Her development reflected years of dedication to a sport she had loved since childhood.

The circumstances surrounding the incident also affected fellow jockey Diego Montes de Oca, who was dislodged from his horse, Shadow Dane, during the same race. Montes de Oca sustained injuries to his left foot and was taken to hospital for treatment before being discharged.

Marnoo was euthanised after sustaining a serious foreleg injury in the fall, while officials abandoned the remaining race on Sunday’s programme.

Racing NSW subsequently postponed a scheduled meeting at Scone on Monday following consultations with jockeys and trainers, reflecting the distressing impact of the incident across the racing community.

Tributes have also extended beyond individual messages. The Australian Turf Club confirmed that jockeys would wear black armbands during the fifth race at Warwick Farm on Wednesday, November 11, in Neale’s memory. The organisation also indicated that discussions were under way with Racing NSW and the NSW Jockeys Association about naming a race in her honour the following week.

The tragedy has brought renewed attention to the risks faced by professional jockeys, whose work demands exceptional balance, concentration and courage while competing at high speeds.

For Neale’s family, however, the loss extends far beyond her achievements on the racecourse.

Their statement reflected the passing of a much-loved daughter, sister and friend whose connection with horses began in childhood and remained central to her identity.

The family expressed gratitude to Racing NSW, the NSW Jockeys Association, medical personnel and members of the public who offered support during Neale’s hospitalisation.

They also asked for privacy as they come to terms with their loss.

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Although Neale’s promising career ended far too soon, her 88 victories, the affection she inspired among fellow riders and her family’s decision to support organ donation leave a lasting reminder of a young life that touched many people within and beyond Australian horse racing.