THE racing industry is in mourning, shocked by the news of the passing of 22-year-old jockey Izzy Neale following a race fall on Sunday in New South Wales.

Riding at Warren, just over six hours north-west of Sydney, the much loved apprentice came off Marnoo in the Warren Shire Cotton Cup after the gelding sustained a fatal foreleg injury near the 400 metre mark. Unconscious, she was tranferred by air to Dubbo Hospital.

In a critical condition, Izzy was placed on life support and, despite every effort from the medical experts, she passed away peacefully on Tuesday surrounded by family and friends.

“It is with deep sadness and broken hearts that we announce the passing of our beloved Izzy, surrounded by her closest family and friends,” read a Neale family 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. Through organ donation, Izzy will give others the chance of life, bringing some comfort to our family amid this devastating loss. 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 much-loved apprentice with a radiant smile had been a professional jockey almost three years. She rode a winner at her very first ride and celebrated her first city winner in July at Rosehill and already had 88 wins to her name.

May she rest in peace.