Black, a 40-year-old mother of three children from Riverton, was riding Point Proven in race eight at the Tapanui Racing Club’s meeting just before 4pm.
Her mount stumbled and fell, dislodging her from the saddle.
The trailing horse, Misscattlecreek, ridden by Terry Moseley, was tripped by the falling Point Proven, then also fell and appeared to land on Black.
Moseley was dislodged from his saddle but escaped without major injury.
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, but said they would compile a report for the coroner. Worksafe was also present.
The remaining two races at the meeting were abandoned after the incident. Winton horse trainer Greg Wright, who trains Point Proven, was devastated by Black’s death.
"There are no words for a situation like this."
Black rode horses in training and in races for Wright.
"She worked for us on a very casual basis and was away riding a lot."
"The horse she rode [Point Proven] was one of her favourites; she won on him on the Gore track last season. She loved riding him in work."
Black was a friendly character who could relate to everyone, Wright said.
"She was always good for a yarn, she would talk to anyone. It wouldn’t matter if you were a pauper or the Pope, she would call a spade a spade."
Wright also paid tribute to the jockey as a person who tried her best in life, despite not always having the best circumstances.
"Rebecca may have been a rough diamond but she was a diamond."
"She was a gutsy lady who did her best in life."
"She was trying to do the best she could. She certainly had plenty of courage."
Black’s former husband, Riverton horse trainer Kelvin Tyler, said the jockey was popular among her peers.
"She was pretty well liked, yeah, definitely."
The pair were married for only a short time before separating, but they remained close friends, he said.
"We spoke every day. We were still pretty close."
The trainer also paid tribute to Black’s dedication to her profession.
"Racing was her life. She was so dedicated to it.
"She was a very good horseperson, especially on the rough horses."
Tyler confirmed two of Black’s three children saw the accident unfold.
"They’re obviously pretty shocked and devastated," he said.
Earlier in the day, Black finished second in her only other riding engagement on the day’s programme, when riding Ellerstina for Timaru trainers Terrill Charles and Peter Corbett.
Black rode throughout the South Island on the thoroughbred racing circuit. Before yesterday’s meeting, her career riding tally stood at 108 race wins from 1264 rides.
The jockey also held a trainer’s licence and had five horses registered as being in work with her. The class B training licence holder had gained five wins from 45 starters since starting in 2007. The last jockey to die during a race was Ashlee Mundy, after a fall from her horse mid-race in 2012 in Kurow.
- Jonny Turner, additional reporting New Zealand Herald
