Death of former leading female rider Diane Nelson

Former jockey Diane Nelson, who rode more than 1,000 winners during a 21-year career in the US, died last week in New York.

Nelson, whose career was cut short by back problems in 2007, reportedly died on July 5; some reports said she was 54, but the Daily Racing Form and New York Times listed her as 51. A family memorial service was held in Suffolk County, Long Island, on Monday; no cause of death has been reported.

"I don't know anything about the circumstances, but I heard from several people she died July 5," said former jockey Abby Fuller, speaking to the Blood-Horse. "Diane was beautiful inside and out and she was a good rider too.

"She held her own with the big boys in New York and we know what that's like," added Fuller, who rode with Nelson at the New England tracks where she made her name. "She was always very private and had not been in touch with many people over the last few years."

'A really sad loss'

A native New Yorker, Nelson gained national attention as an apprentice when she recorded 209 victories in 1988, riding mainly at Rockingham Park in New Hampshire and Suffolk Downs in Boston. She achieved her personal best of 228 the following year.

After moving to the highly competitive New York circuit, Nelson became one of the leading female riders in the States, partnering a total of 1,095 winners from 9,905 mounts for prize-money of $19.1 million; she was the sixth woman to top the 1,000-winner mark in North America. She won eight Graded stakes, most notably the Grade 1 Prioress at Belmont Park in 2005 on Acey Deucey for trainer John Morrison.

Nelson also worked as a model, starring in TV advertisements for the New York Racing Association, and had a contract with the Ford Modeling Agency for a time.

Trainer Leah Gyarmati's first two winners were ridden by Nelson. "It’s really a sad loss for all of us," she said, speaking to the Daily Racing Form.

"Just the fact that she hasn’t been around the track the last few years was a big loss. She did a lot for the sport, she did a lot for women in the sport."