The racing world has come together as one to celebrate the life of jockey Dean Holland who tragically lost his life in a race fall at Donald.
Holland was a popular figure, who possessed a huge and readymade smile who at the age of 34 was about to take his career to another level.
He was set to become one of those late maturing jockeys such as Neville Wilson, Peter Robl and Dean Yendall who achieved their best success when they were older.
It was only six weeks ago Holland won his second Group 1 and had the biggest win of his career when he won the Newmarket Handicap on In Secret where he was a late substitution for Jamie Kah who was injured in a fall four races earlier.
Holland showed his class when he won the race as he didn’t carry on when he hit the winning post.
He explained later that it wouldn’t have been the right thing to have “yahooed” in that circumstance. He said he was thinking of Kah and also Craig Williams who was also injured in that fall.
His passing underlines what jockeys face every time they go out to ride. They face danger and accidents do happen whether it’s due to interference or horse’s breaking down during a race. It’s a fact of life which they must face.
Kudos to them as they are the backbone of the industry.
