The racing community is in mourning after a jockey died during a race club meeting two of her children attended.
Riverton-based Rebecca Black, 40, died after her horse Point Proven stumbled and fell, dislodging her from the saddle yesterday afternoon.
The fall happened during Race 8 at the Tapanui RacingClub meeting.
The trailing horse, Misscattlecreek, ridden by Terry Moseley, had nowhere to go and also fell and appeared to land on Black. Mosley escaped without major injury.
Misscattlecreek was reportedly euthanased following the fall.
Black's former husband Kelvin Tyler confirmed two of her three children saw the accident unfold.
Riverton-based Rebecca Black, 40, a mother of three, died after her horse Point Proven stumbled and fell, dislodging her from the saddle. Photo / Facebook
"They're obviously pretty shocked and devastated," he told the Herald.
He had not seen a video of the accident but thought the horses might have gotten too close to each other.
"It sounded like it got a bit tight for room and they went down."
He said horses were Black's No 1 passion. She had grown up with horses all her life. Tyler said she had close to 20 horses and ponies as Black ran a riding school as well as working as a jockey.
"She was a horse person.
"It's all she does and she's good at it."
New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing chief executive Greg Purcell said that the death would be felt by the close-knit racing community throughout New Zealand.
"All our thoughts are with Rebecca's family and friends at this dreadful time."
Counselling has been made available to Black's colleagues and friends.
He said Black was only the second jockey to die in a race fall in the past 10 years.
The last was Ashlee Mundy, 26, in 2012 in Kurow in the South Island.
A police spokeswoman said they were called to the track at 4.10pm.
St John spokeswoman Victoria Hawkins said an ambulance was already at the event as a precaution but another one was dispatched due to the "serious nature" of the incident.
She said when it arrived, the patient was deceased at the scene.
Police are preparing a report for the coroner and WorkSafe have been advised.
Racing Integrity Unit general manager stewards Nigel McIntyre said an inquiry had opened into the reasons Black's horse fell.
The race meet was called off after the fall.
Black rode on the South Island thoroughbred racing circuit.
"Rebecca may have been a rough diamond but she was a diamond.
"She was a gutsy lady who did her best in life.
"She was trying to do the best she could, she certainly had plenty of courage."
Earlier in the day, Black finished second in her only other riding engagement on the day's programme, when riding Ellerstina for Timaru trainers Terrill Charles & Peter Corbett.
The jockey also held a trainers licence and had five horses registered as being in work with her.
The class B training licence holder notched 5 wins from 45 starters since starting in 2007.
Horse race falls in southern New Zealand
• December 2016: Rebecca Black, 40, dies after fall during race club meeting at Gore racecourse
• December 2012: Ashlee Mundy, 26, dies after race fall at Kurow racecourse
