Horse-breeder Sir Patrick Hogan says he is terribly upset after his champion mare Katie Lee kicked and fatally injured a stablehand.
Blair Busby, 37, suffered a ruptured spleen when the group one winner kicked him while in the stalls area during the Hawke's Bay spring carnival race meeting in Hastings on Saturday.
Mr Busby was taken to hospital, but died from his injuries Wednesday afternoon.
Sir Patrick, who bought Katie Lee for $340,000 in 2008, said he was upset about what had happened.
He was at the races and heard that Mr Busby had been kicked. He went to the stalls and found ambulance staff helping him, he told The Dominion Post.
"He was lying on his side and it was obvious he was getting his colour back in his face.
"He chatted to me, actually smiled and we had a bit of talk. I just thanked God he was OK and that was where I left it. Then on Sunday morning I was told it was much worse."
Katie Lee went on to win the $70,000 (1400m) Traderacks Stakes.
Sir Patrick said the mare had never kicked a person or another horse before.
"I think in hindsight... there may a question mark about the area [where the incident occurred] being too tight."
He said there was only about a 3m gap between the tied-up horse and a fence, and sometimes two horses passed each other in the gap.
"You can't blame anyone for it. It was a shocking incident and anyone and any horse could have been caught up in it."
Mr Busby's death has been referred to the coroner.
His funeral will be held in Hawera on Tuesday.
