Racing in mourning after death of jockey Megan Taylor following fall

The New Zealand racing community is once again in mourning after the death of apprentice jockey Megan Taylor after a fall on Thursday.

Taylor, who was in her third season, was among four jockeys who fell during an incident in the second race at Ashburton.

Her fellow riders Samantha Wynne, Tina Comignaghi and Diego Monte de Oca, are being assessed for non-life-threatening injuries. Wynne is suspected to have suffered a broken collarbone.

Taylor was apprenticed to trainer Andrew Carston, after beginning her career with John Blackadder, and had a background in eventing, spending two years with Tim and Jonelle Price in the UK.

The 26-year-old's death comes just four months after Japanese jockey Taiki Yanagida died from injuries suffered in a fall at Cambridge in New Zealand's North Island.

Bruce Sharrock, New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) chief executive, said: "Our deepest sympathies are with Megan's family, friends and others in the racing community who have worked closely her. We will support them in any way possible in the coming days and weeks. We will also support the jockeys and others who were at the races today."

One of Taylor's friends paid tribute to the jockey, describing her as a "beautiful soul that was loved by so many".

Alex Coleman told the New Zealand Herald: "I’m not sure anyone is going to be able to find the words to describe how tragic the loss of Megan is.

"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."

Staff from New Zealand's Racing Integrity Board and the police remained at the scene to conduct investigations into the incident, which took place after the runners straightened for home in race two.

The rest of the meeting at Ashburton was abandoned following the incident.