A Tragic event today leaves the Racing Industry Deeply Saddened.

[Gammalite]

With the sad loss of Megan Taylor and Taiki Yanagida in recent months in Nz in racing accidents , today another much loved jockey , and father of 4 little ones has tragically been killed in a race fall in country Victoria today.

Dean Holland had recently been on a career high , after picking up the time honoured Newmarket Handicap winning ride on race-mare In Secret for trainer James Cummings.

Paramedics were unable to revive him after the fall in the first race at Donald today. Heart felt condolences to his widow Lucy and 4 young children. 

RIP Dean Holland. 

[Gammalite]

The Winning ride last month at Flemington . Dean's biggest career Win . A thrill for him and all the supporters of In Secret on the day (defeating TJ Smith winner I Wish I Win ). 

Dean Holland wins the Newmarket on In Secret.

[Chief Stipe]

Popular jockey Dean Holland dies after shocking fall

 

Dean Holland tragically died after falling from a horse at Donald.

 By Brad Waters

07:53pm • 24 April 2023

40

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Newmarket Handicap-winning jockey and father of four Dean Holland has died tragically after a shocking fall in Victoria on Monday.

 

Holland, 34, crashed to the turf when his mount Headingley ducked in sharply and fell as the field entered the straight in the opening race at Donald.

 

Jockey Alana Kelly fell from Time To Rumble after the gelding was brought down by the fallen Headingley.

 

Kelly walked back to scale while Holland remained on the track where he was treated by paramedics, who subsequently called for the air ambulance for the jockey.

 

Holland, however, could not be saved despite the valiant efforts of paramedics.

 

Victoria Police said: "(Holland) was worked on by paramedics but sadly died at the scene".

 

 

 

Dean Holland.

 

"Work Safe have been notified and will investigate. The death is not being treated as suspicious."

 

Police will also prepare a report for the coroner.

 

Racing Victoria CEO Andrew Jones said: "On behalf of the Victorian racing industry, I would like to extend our prayers and heartfelt condolences to Dean's partner Lucy, his children, his family, friends and colleagues on the incredibly sad news of his passing."

 

"It was a tragic accident at Donald today and we are all are deeply shocked and saddened that Dean has passed away as a result of injuries sustained in the fall.

 

Victorian Jockeys' Association chief executive Matt Hyland said: "The VJA and our members are incredibly saddened by the loss of our colleague and friend Dean Holland and extend our heartfelt condolences to his partner Lucy, his four children and his wider family."

 

"Dean was a much-loved member of the riding group here in Victoria and when he travelled interstate, and his fellow riders will all be shattered at the shock news of his passing as we at the VJA are," Hyland said.

 

 

 

Dean Holland wins the Newmarket on In Secret.

 

Out of respect, the Anzac Day meetings scheduled for Flemington and Moe on Tuesday will not go ahead.

 

"Racing Victoria, following consultation with the VJA, has determined that (Tuesday's) Anzac Day race meetings at Flemington and Moe will not proceed as programmed out of respect to Dean and the Holland family," the statement said.

 

"A further update on the re-programming of any races will follow in due course."

 

In Sydney, jockeys will wear black armbands for the entirety of the Anzac Day meeting at Randwick-Kensington in a sign of respect to the fallen jockey.

 

Racing NSW boss Peter V'Landys confirmed the organisation would start the ball rolling to raise $20,000 for Holland's family.

 

Holland leaves behind a partner Lucy, and tragically, four children under four years of age — Harley, Luca, Frankie and Lily.

 

Trainers Tony and Calvin McEvoy, who Holland did a bulk of his riding for, said: "Vale Dean Holland. The whole McEvoy Mitchell Racing team are sending our love and thoughts to Deans family. Lucy, their 4 kids, Darren and Belinda.

 

"Dean was a huge part of the McEvoy Mitchell Racing team and always bought a smile to everyone's face at work. Rest easy Deano."

 

Holland posted the biggest win of his career when he steered In Secret to victory for the international Godolphin operation in the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington in March.

 

His fellow riders celebrated with Holland as the lightweight jockey was universally popular across the racing industry with gentle demeanour and hard-working approach endearing him to his peers and trainers.

 

Those same riders along with the state's trainers now had to begin their own grieving process for their comrade with social media tributes to Holland.

 

 

 

Holland won more than 1100 races in a career that started on a dusty circuit at Ceduna in SA in December 2005 with his first winner coming at that venue in January 2006.

 

Holland is part of one of South Australia's most respected racing families with his father Darren riding more than 600 winners in his career.

 

Holland was apprenticed to South Australian trainer Jon O'Connor while he also spent time with Hall of Fame trainer David Hayes.

 

Donald is 280km northwest of Melbourne. Both horses involved in Monday's fall were understood to have avoided injury.

 

Stewards abandoned the remaining races of Monday's meeting.

 

 

 

Dean Holland with James Cummings after winning the Newmarket Handicap on In Secret last month.

 

It is the latest in a series of shocking falls in Victoria in recent weeks which seriously injured jockeys including Jamie Kah, Ethan Brown, Craig Williams and Teo Nugent.

 

Holland had his biggest day in the saddle only a few weeks ago when he picked up the last-minute winning ride on In Secret in the Newmarket Handicap at Flemington.

 

 

 

Dean Holland after winning on Way Up High at Ararat on Thursday.

 

Holland landed the ride after Kah was injured in a fall earlier in the day.

 

After winning the Newmarket, Holland said: "First of all, what I didn't want to do was carry on, win, lose or draw with what happened with Jamie (Kah) and Willo (Craig Williams)."

 

 

"My thoughts go out to them," he said at the time.

 

"I'm just the lucky one that was able to ride light today and picked up the ride on one of Australia's best sprinters."

 

 

 

Dean Holland after winning the 2019 Adelaide Cup on Surprise Baby.

 

Holland, originally from Adelaide, was having a breakout season with 82 winners in Victoria, and was sitting fourth on the Victorian jockeys' premiership table.

 

Prior to Monday, he last rode at Morphettville on Saturday where he finished an unlucky fourth on Seradess in the Group 3 Irwin Stakes.

 

 

 

Dean Holland (right) with his dad Darren in 2004.

 

One of his greatest wins on the track was the 2019 Adelaide Cup on Surprise Baby.

 

His last winner was on a horse called Way Up High at Ararat on Thursday.

 

 

 

Dean Holland with his wife Lucy and two of their children in 2020.

 

Dean Holland's parents are making their way from Carpenters Rocks in South Australia to Victoria.

[Chief Stipe]

Tragic.  4 children aged under 4.

[Special Agent]

Dean was a very respected talent and being and will be greatly missed.

Enjoy the highs in racing, and life, and hold the memories close.

Tragedies remind us how short and precious life is.  Try to keep arguments and fights to a minimum; there are better things to do with your time.