Megan Taylor died after her horse, Red Orchid, was one of four horses to fall, 350 meters before the end of the second race at the Ashburton Thoroughbred meeting on Thursday.
She was pronounced dead at the track soon after, as race officials gathered her fellow jockeys to tell them the heartbreaking news.
The remainder of the race meeting was discontinued.
A friend of Taylor’s, Alex Coleman, told the Herald, “I’m not sure anyone will be able to find the words to describe how tragic the loss of Megan is”.
“She was such a beautiful soul who was loved by so many and the shock of her being taken so tragically and so young is completely numbing.”
In a statement posted on Facebook, Coleman said: “From riding in the Belfast pony club to talking to each other by traveling the world. You were a special Megan.
“You were so great at bringing energy to whatever room you entered and your joyful spirit will be sorely missed. Fly high blondie”
Police confirmed to the Herald that someone had died at Ashburton Racecourse after receiving reports that someone had been injured there at 1.30pm.
A police spokesman said Taylor’s family wanted privacy at this time. WorkSafe New Zealand has been notified and Taylor’s death has been referred to the coroner.
Hato Hone St John said they received a call at 1:06pm regarding an incident at Ashburton Racecourse.
“One patient was taken to Ashburton Hospital with moderate injuries. Two other patients with minor injuries were assessed and treated on the spot.”
Three other jockeys, Samantha Wynne, Tina Comignaghi and Diego Monte de Oca, were also on falling mountains, but although Wynne is suspected of a broken collarbone, race officials reported that none of them suffered serious injuries.
No horses were seriously injured in the incident.
Taylor was 26 and still an apprentice (junior) jockey after entering the racing industry relatively late.
She had worked as a horse groomer for equestrian horses, including for top New Zealand riders Tim and Jonelle Price in England, and also spent time working in shearing sheds.
Taylor had never even ridden a racehorse until 2019, when she started working for Canterbury trainer John Blackadder, before her apprenticeship was handed over to Riccarton trainer Andrew Carston.
She rode track work almost every morning at the Riccarton training center.
South Island senior jockey Terry Moseley said Taylor was immensely popular.
“She was just one of those people that everyone liked because she was so sweet to be around,” Moseley told the Herald.
“She smiled, was always polite and worked very hard,” he said.
Moseley was driving in the race when the accident occurred.
“I spent some time traveling to the Deep South to meet her and she was very enlightening, one of those young people who energizes you and was a real pleasure to talk to,” Moseley said.
“Her loss will really be felt here. It was incredibly sad… and it wasn’t just the jockeys who felt it, it was everyone there and it will be everyone who has had to deal with Megan.
His comments were echoed by other senior jockeys and trainers, all baffled by the accident that strikes at the heart of the South Island’s tight-knit racing industry.
New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) CEO Bruce Sharrock said everyone in the industry will receive support and advice if they need it.
“We as an industry and NZTR as an organization are deeply saddened by the loss of Megan,” said Sharrock.
“We will be providing support to her family and I spoke to her mother (yesterday) and told her we are there for her in any way she needs.
“That includes her friends, fellow jockeys and anyone in the industry who needs these services.
“It’s a tragedy.”
Taylor told Trackside TV, after riding her first winner early last year, that although she was a relative latecomer to riding racehorses, she immediately loved it.
“Once I started riding, it happened [becoming a fulltime rider] pretty quickly and I discovered that I’ve always loved horses and had off-the-track Thoroughbreds (retired racehorses),’ Taylor said.
“And I like to go fast.”
She rode 16 winners in her short career.
The Racing Integrity Board stewards will investigate the accident and its cause.
Race Minister Kieran McAnulty took to Twitter to express his condolences to Taylor’s family.
“I am incredibly saddened to hear of the passing of jockey Megan Taylor during a race this afternoon. I want to extend my deepest condolences to Megan’s family and friends, and to everyone in the industry who worked with and knew her.”
The Australian Jockeys’ Association said it was a “sad day in racing”.
“We extend our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Megan Taylor who sadly passed away following a race crash in NZ, and also send our best wishes to the two other fallen riders. A sad day in racing.”
While fatal crashes in racing are rare in New Zealand, Taylor is the second jockey here this year to die from race-related injuries. Taiki Yanagida died in September at Waikato Hospital, six days after a fall on the Cambridge synthetic track.
-By Michael Guerin and Raphael Franks