By Lee Kenny
A young jockey has died after a serious fall in a race in Canterbury, New Zealand.
Apprentice jockey Megan Taylor, 26, died after the crash on Thursday afternoon at Ashburton Raceway.
Apprentice jockey Megan Taylor.Credit:Twitter
Taylor was riding Red Orchid in race 2, which had 14 runners. Three other jockeys were involved in the same fall, which happened just after 1pm (11am, AEDT).
Trackside TV footage of the race appeared to show Taylor’s mount squeezed in a gap with horses on either side, before crashing to the track with the other three unable to avoid a collision.
Confirming the incident, New Zealand’s racing minister Kieran McAnulty said he was “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.”
Taylor had ridden 16 winners since beginning her career in 2021. She was apprenticed to trainer Andrew Carston at Riccarton, Christchurch.
According to website Racenet, conditions at the track on Thursday were described as good with possible light rain. Ashburton Raceway declined to comment. The meeting has been abandoned.
An accomplished horsewoman, Taylor helped New Zealand Olympic equestrians Tim and Jonelle Price prepare their horses for the prestigious Burghley Horse Trials.
Taylor won her first race as a jockey on Jimmy Who at Timaru racecourse on June 13 last year. At the time she said she was “absolutely thrilled” and said it was a day she “would never forget”.
Taylor had her first double win on May 27 when she rode both Koputaroa and Amberecho to victory at Wingatui.
Stuff.co.nz
