Remembering Nathan Berry’s extraordinary life as racing world mourns
NATHAN Berry’s tragic death has shocked and saddened us all — but now is the time to pause and reflect the young jockey’s extraordinary life.
HIS tragic death has shocked and saddened us all — but now is the time to pause and reflect on an extraordinary life.
Nathan Berry died in a Sydney hospital on Thursday after contracting an illness called Norse Syndrome, which relates to epilepsy. He was only 23.
GONE TOO SOON: NATHAN BERRY PASSES AWAY AT 23
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He should have been riding in the Golden Slipper today but, instead, jockeys will form a guard of honour and there will be a minute’s silence in memory of a life taken far too soon.
This will be the time to remember Nathan Berry, the jockey, the brother, the son, the husband, the man.
How the young blonde-haired boy and his identical twin brother Tommy grew up around the Warwick Farm stables of their trainer-father Kevin, dreaming of becoming jockeys.
How the inseparable twins followed their dream, became champion apprentices and then outstanding young jockeys.
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This will be the time to remember Nathan Berry, the jockey, the brother, the son, the husband, the man. 
And how Nathan’s biggest fan, Whitney Schofield, herself the daughter of jockey Glyn Schofield, came to virtually every race meeting to watch him ride.
Their love story became complete when they married on February 2.
His young wife kept a bedside vigil in Singapore as the jockey’s condition deteriorated. The cruel suddenness of his death is still difficult to comprehend.
But Nathan Berry has also left us with so many memories.
He was enjoying a breakout season, winning his first stakes race wins on Va Pensiero, Malavio and Unencumbered.
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But it was his Magic Millions win with Unencumbered at the Gold Coast in January that signalled Berry’s emergence as a big-race rider.
It led to the offer of a four-month Singapore riding contract, a lucrative and coveted appointment that is also an acknowledgment of his riding talents.
He rode more than 350 winners during his short but brilliant career and had won three races in Singapore, including a winner with his very last race ride.
But it was not only for his riding skills that Nathan Berry will be remembered. The jockey with the kind smile was universally admired in the racing industry for his courteous and polite manner, his humble sincerity and his integrity.
This is why there has been such an outpouring of grief since his passing two days ago.
As his twin brother Tommy wrote on Facebook on Thursday night: ”I know Nathan will be sadly missed by so many people. That cheeky grin, that great sense of humour and the kindest heart God has ever given anyone.’’
Jockeys will wear blue armbands in memory of Nathan Berry’s favourite colour, and part of the riding silks of Unencumbered, at Rosehill Gardens today.
The Sunday Telegraph Tulloch Stakes has been renamed the Nathan Berry Tulloch Stakes, condolence books will be available for the public to sign and a special video and picture tribute would also be displayed on the infield and television screens across the course during the minute’s silence.
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