Megan Taylor, a young apprentice jockey, has tragically died after a fall at Ashburton Raceway in New Zealand.
The 26-year-old was riding Red Orchid when three other horses were caught up in a collision, although Diego Montes de Oca on Billydude, Samantha Wynne on Show Us Plenty and Tina Comignaghi on O’Dua managed to escape relatively unscathed.
“Our deepest sympathies are with Megan’s family, friends, and others in the racing community who have worked closely with Megan,” New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing chief executive Bruce Sharrock said.
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Taylor had ridden 16 winners in her burgeoning career and was an apprentice to trainer Andrew Carston.
“I’m not sure anyone is going to be able to find the words to describe how tragic the loss of Megan is,” her friend, Alex Coleman, told the NZ Herald.
“She was such a beautiful soul that was loved by so many and the shock of her being taken so tragically and so young is completely numbing.”
NZTR addressed the tragedy in a statement expressing their condolences to Taylor’s family and friends, while offering to support those who had been involved or witnessed the incident.
“NZTR and the racing industry as a whole is saddened by the news that jockey Megan Taylor has died as a result of a racing incident this afternoon at Ashburton racecourse," the statement read.
"Miss Taylor was among four jockeys that fell during the incident. These jockeys are being assessed for their injuries, but we understand that these are not life-threatening.
“We also will support the jockeys and others who were at the races today.”
Taylor’s death marks the second time this year a jockey has died on a New Zealand racetrack in 2022 after Taiki Yanagida passed away in August following a fall during a race meeting at Cambridge.
