Star New Zealand jockey Danielle Johnson suffered a broken leg and trainer Cliff Goss a broken heart after a tragedy struck the major mile at Ellerslie on Saturday.
Hot favourite Gold Watch, trained by 90-year-old Goss, broke down at the 200m mark in the $120,000 Group 2 mile, throwing premiership-winning jockey Johnson to the track.
Both horse and rider suffered broken legs, which in humans are painful but in horses usually fatal, especially when they happen at race speed.
That was sadly the case for Gold Watch, who was caught at the 100m mark and after being surrounded by a privacy screen had to be euthanised.
When Gold Watch stumbled Johnson was dislodged and hit the firm track, rolling several times.