Strappers, trainers and family members formed a guard of honour at the Canberra Hospital on Friday as a police car transported the organs of track rider Riharna Thomson who passed away that morning, her last act one to save the lives of others.
The racing industry has been rocked by the death of the popular young track rider who was the stables foreman for trainers Keith Dryden and Scott Collings when she suffered critical head injuries in a fall at Thoroughbred Park on Tuesday.
It's understood the 22-year-old's organs were taken to Canberra airport to be flown interstate for immediate transplant to patients in need.
Dryden and Canberra trainer Nick Olive were among those at the hospital to support Riharna's parents, from Nelson Bay, and brother, who had flown from Perth, to be by her side.
Dryden said the family was "devastated, they're devastated".
"She was an unbelievable person," he said.
"She was studying politics at the ANU and we used to call her 'The Minister'. We only spoke about it during the week and I think she only had 12 months of it to go.
"She was a bubbly person but she didn't go out of your way to push on you. She laughed and smiled."
An emotional Olive said it was too difficult to process the loss of Riharna's life and her final generous act of organ donation.
"That sums her up. She's given her organs and she'll save someone's life today," he said.
"By the industry, she was well-liked by everyone.
"It's just been such a tragic week, for a young life to be taken like that. It's tragic."
Canberra's premier race day, the Black Opal Stakes, will still be held on Sunday, no doubt with sombre undertones, with a ceremony in Riharna's honour to be held in the mounting yard at 1pm before the first race.
Jockeys have said they will wear black arm bands and ride in her memory.
An autumn lunch featuring John Singleton as guest speaker for the Canberra branch of the Thoroughbred Club of Australia was cancelled on Friday out of respect.
However, some key figures in the racing industry are feeling extremely raw and want to avoid the track altogether.
"The way I feel at the moment, I don't even want to go the races but I understand it has to go on," Olive said.
Canberra Racing Club chief executive Peter Stubbs said it had considered cancelling the Black Opal Stakes.
"It's employment for a lot of people. It's the basis of the whole industry and there's wider implications," Mr Stubbs said.
Mr Stubbs said Racing NSW Pastor Reverend Colin Watts would lead Sunday's trackside ceremony for Riharna, with her funeral expected to be held later in Tamworth. A later memorial service was also being planned for Canberra.
"Everyone in the racing family at Thoroughbred Park is deeply affected by the passing of Riharna," he said.
"She was a lovely person, dedicated to her job. She had her own pleasure horses which she looked after as well as looking after race horses as her job.
"There's 26 trainers based here at Thoroughbred Park and they have a lot of staff and they socialise together and travel together to race meetings, there's quite a number of female track riders, and when I was at the hospital on Wednesday, the waiting room was basically just packed with all those people."
It is the second death connected to Thoroughbred Park with an apprentice jockey Anthony Martin dying after a fall during a barrier trial in 1972
Riharna suffered critical head injuries and was put on life support on Tuesday when the horse she was riding, Chosen Prayer, broke its leg in what has been described as a freak accident at Thoroughbred Park.
Dryden said Riharna was riding her favourite horse when the accident happened.
"She alternates between our Goulburn stable and Canberra and she was to go to Goulburn on the morning but she stayed there to ride that horse," he said.
Dryden said he was "too upset to take any part" in the Black Opal Stakes.
Her father, Ian Thomson, was previously a publican in the little town of Walcha, north-east of Tamworth, but had since relocated to Nelson Bay.
Riharna grew up in Walcha and attended the New England Girls' School in Armidale, which has a strong horse program, including its own equestrian centre.
Toni Griffis, a cook at one of the pubs Mr Thomson used to own in Walcha, said Riharna had been "a beautiful girl".
"She's going to be very missed up here," Ms Griffis said.
"She was the most beautiful, beautiful soul."
NEGS' head of boarding, Stephanie Thomas, was then Riharna's year advisor from years nine to 12.
"It's an absolute tragedy and our thoughts are with her family and friends," Mrs Thomas said.
"She really embodied the NEGS' spirit of embracing life and trying everything."
Canberra trainer Barbara Joseph said Riharna would be sorely missed.
"We're all going to miss her smiling face. It's not going to be the same at track work for quite a while," she said.