VALE DEAN HOLLAND 1988 - 2023
bloke with the big grin outside the jockey’s room who always had time for a chat. The proud dad with a kind word and a family photo to share. Holland was someone that you wanted to be around, and you felt better for being around him. No fall is taken lightly in the jockey’s room. The collective breath is held in the aftermath of an incident, colleagues wait for fallen comrades to sit up, to put their hand in the air. In the moments after Holland’s tragic fall at Donald on April 24th, the racing community prayed and hoped that the popular jockey would be OK. The news of his passing was utterly devastating, shaking the sport to its core. A young father and gifted horseman taken far too soon. Holland, 34 is survived by his partner Lucy, his four children Harley, Luca, Frankie and Lily, his parents Darren and Belinda and sister Kirstie, extended family and a legion of friends and colleagues who are proud to have called him a mate. Family and friends gathered to farewell Dean Holland at Flemington, with moving tributes from the jockey’s family and colleagues. The service concluded with a guard of honour held on the Flemington track.
There would scarcely be a more popular member of the Victorian jockey’s room than Dean Holland. His trademark grin and good-natured cheekiness were known from Warracknabeal to Flemington, the scene of his last great triumph. Holland was destined for a life in the saddle. A natural lightweight, Holland’s father and grandfather were both accomplished jockeys. Beginning his career in Adelaide in 2005 as apprentice to trainer Jon O’Connor, Holland became a respected horseman with over 1118 winners including Group and Listed wins.
He was a man who was as humble as he was talented, and he highlighted both qualities in the moments following the Newmarket Handicap in March.
Holland stepped into the breach in the absence of Jamie Kah and masterfully guided the James Cummings-trained filly In Secret to victory. His post-race interview was not the time to celebrate, instead, the welfare of his colleagues was front of mind.
Because that was Holland. The life of the party but never the centre of attention. The great mate with a shoulder to lean on. The cheeky
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INSIDE HEADQUARTERS ISSUE 2 2023
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