Racing identities from all over the world gathered at Rosehill Gardens on Tuesday to farewell popular jockey Nathan Berry.
Berry died after suffering from Norse syndrome, contracted not long after starting what was a successful riding stint in Singapore.
Fittingly, Berry’s final ride was a winner.
More than 1500 people, most wearing Nathan’s colour blue, attended his funeral, such was the esteem he was held in by everyone in the racing community.
Nathan’s twin brother, Tommy, gave a moving eulogy and paid tribute to his closest mate, saying his death “left a hole in my heart”. Nathan’s career included 351 winning rides, of which the highlight was the Magic Millions victory on the Gold Coast in January.
He rode in 375 races at Hawkesbury and won 34 of them and his rides amassed close to a million dollars on the Clarendon track.
Nathan married his beloved wife Whitney in February.
As she was walking down the aisle at their wedding Nathan told the priest that “his life” was walking towards him.
What made Berry so popular with everyone he came in contact with was no matter who they were, from the heavyweights of the industry to the small-time owners, he treated everyone equally and with as much respect.
Trainer Michael Freedman and jockey Corey Brown were just two of many who travelled from overseas to be at his farewell.
Nathan Berry was 23 years old.