Female jockey Rebecca Black dies at Gore race meeting

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

Two children of a female jockey witnessed their mother's tragic fall - and collision with another horse - during a race meeting in Gore.

Riverton-based Rebecca Black, 40, a mother of three, died after her horse Point Proven stumbled and fell, dislodging her from the saddle.

The fall happened during Race 8 at the Tapanui Racing Club 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.

Rebecca Black rode on the South Island thoroughbred racing circuit. Photo / Matt Smith

Black's former husband Kelvin Tyler confirmed two of her three children saw the accident unfold.

"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 number one 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."

Kathy McInnes did her jockey apprenticeship with Black in 1993 in Invercargill. They formed a close friendship and kept in touch ever since. McInnes said she was always in awe of Black's horsemanship skills and her "sheer nerves of steel".

"I just remember being in awe of her talent of horses and wishing I had an ounce of her gift.

"I had to work hard at my craft but it seemed to come easy for her. I was inspired by her.

"Just a natural instinct to read a race and be fearless and take gaps which other people wouldn't have taken."

McInnes, 42, was shocked when she saw the tragic news on Facebook. But will remember her friend as a "great little soul".

"I couldn't believe what I was reading.

"She was larger than life bubbly, great sense of humour, always up for a laugh, a fearless horsewoman."

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."

Southland-based Black rode on the South Island thoroughbred racing circuit. Photo / Facebook

Counselling has been made available to Black's colleagues and friends.

A police spokeswoman confirmed a jockey had died and said they were called to the track at 4.10pm.

Police would not confirm the identity of the jockey.

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.

During her career she had ridden in 1264 races, winning on 108 occasions. She rode her first winner in the 1993-94 season.

The last jockey to die during a race was Ashlee Mundy after a fall from her horse mid-race in 2012 in Kurow in the South Island.

Mundy, 26, landed on her head, receiving non-survivable injuries, and it is understood she may have been trodden on by another galloping horse.