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By Ray Thomas

The racing industry lost a beautiful soul when Nini Vascotto lost her brave fight against cancer and she touched so many lives with her positivity, wrote the Daily Telegraph's Ray Thomas.

The text said simply: “Things not going well and slipping quite quickly unfortunately — but hanging on like Winx not giving up!”

I read the message countless times that evening. The inference was clear but you keep hoping … praying.

The author was Nini Vascotto. She had been bravely struggling against cancer for a decade. Last Friday, a week after she sent that text, Nini passed away. She was just 44.

Nini Vascotto on the job as social media manager for the ATC. Picture: Hollie Adams

This is not an easy story to write. We all realise life’s journey can be cruel and death is confronting.

But to take someone so young is difficult to understand. And why Nini? Why such a gentle, beautiful, caring soul? The unfairness of this tragedy hurts.

Like many, I was emotional when I learned of Nini’s passing and there are tears welling in my eyes again as I write this story.

But from this tragedy we can learn more about ourselves. It will be a tribute to Nini.

About being a better person, about being grateful, respectful, courteous. About confronting your fears. About the true meaning of courage.

Nini was the Australian Turf Club’s social media manager which in itself is a paradox.

Social media is used as a vehicle by some to criticise and denigrate. It can bring out the worst in human behaviour.

But not Nini. She used social media to spread the message about racing, the excitement of the sport, about the champions both equine and human. She was a beacon of positivity.

She also used it to chronicle her decade-long battle with cancer. She told the world of her struggles and fears in her typically candid, honest way.

Only a few months ago, I asked Nini why she wanted to do this and her answer epitomised her selfless, caring nature.

“I’m aware people know about me and my story but I’m a little embarrassed because at the end of the day I’m only doing what I have to do,’’ Nini said.

“But if I can inspire people who are going through something similar and give them hope to keep going, that’s amazing.

“A guy from London sent me a message saying his wife had been diagnosed with breast cancer, they were encouraged by my story and read my updates.

“There are some people in America I’ve never met who always send positive messages to let me know they are thinking of me and that I am giving them inspiration. It’s wonderful for people to say that, it is quite touching."

When Nini was first diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer about 10 years ago, her prognosis was bleak. The race club organised a special function for her that was attended by hundreds of her work colleagues and friends.

But Nini kept fighting hard. She never gave up. She never complained. She learned to live for the moment, making the most of every day.

And she kept working. She enjoyed her role at the ATC, was often responsible for sashing the race winners and had a particular affinity with the mighty mare Winx.

Nini was last at the racetrack in June when the filly she part-owned, Forzanini, won on the Kensington course at Randwick. She even had her cancer treatment delayed for a couple of hours that day so she could watch her filly win.

There was another occasion, two years ago, when Nini was named NSW Racing Writers Personality of the Year for her contributions to racing. She had been in hospital that week but attended the function, received her award to a standing ovations, gave the most touching of speeches, then was driven back to hospital.

But Nini’s story is not complete without mention of her devoted husband, Murray Conallin.

Their love for one another was complete. Murray, a remarkable man, has stood by her side every step of the way during her illness.

“Nini taught me lessons in life I’ll never fully realise, she was my great love and I’m insanely lucky and privileged to have been the one she chose,’’ Murray wrote on social media.

Maybe it was fitting that Murray chose social media to reveal Nini had passed because the outpouring of emotion worldwide since Friday is an extraordinary tribute.

Sydney jockeys honoured Nini by wearing black armbands in the third race at Kembla Grange on Saturday, there has been suggestions the ATC should name a race in Nini’s honour, maybe even a suite in the new Winx Stand – and the tributes continue on social media.

Nini Vascotto touched the lives of so many in such a positive, meaningful way.

The racing industry lost a beautiful soul on Friday but she leaves a lasting legacy of inspiration and hope.