Racing in New Zealand was plunged into a state of mourning after apprentice jockey Megan Taylor died in a fall during a race on Thursday.
The 26-year-old was riding Red Orchid in a 14-runner maiden race, the second on the card at Ashburton, when her mount was one of four horses which fell on the bend. She was struck by another runner as she lay on the ground and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Three other riders, Diego Montes de Oca, Samantha Wynne and Tina Comignaghi, were not believed to have suffered life-threatening injuries. One of the horses involved in the incident, Show Us Plenty, was humanely euthanised after sustaining a fracture to his right humerus.
“Our deepest sympathies are with Megan’s family, friends, and others in the racing community who have worked closely with Megan. We will look to support them in any way possible in the coming days and weeks” New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing CEO Bruce Sharrock said. “We also will support the Jockeys and others who were at the races today”.
The tragedy occurred just four months after Japanese born jockey Taiki Yanagida died from injuries suffered in a race fall at Cambridge in August.
Taylor was in her third season of riding and had won 16 of her 236 starts in the saddle. Born in Canterbury on New Zealand’s south island, she spent two years working in Britain with Wiltshire-based New Zealand Olympians Tim and Jonelle Price.
She was apprenticed to Riccarton trainer Andrew Carston, having begun her time with North Canterbury trainer John Blackadder.
The rest of the Ashburton meeting was abandoned after race two while officials from the Racing Integrity Board and local police remained at the scene.
Racing Minister Kieran McAnulty said on Twitter : “I’m incredibly saddened to hear about the passing of jockey Megan Taylor during a race this afternoon. I want to pass on my deepest sympathies to Megan’s family and friends, and to all of those in the industry who worked alongside her and knew her.”
