As has been the case for many years, when I woke up on Monday morning I checked the paper for the details of the world, including checking the racing pages to see if my favourite jockey – Dean Holland – known to my many gambling friends who humoured this relationship as Deano – had any rides for the day. As I was known (self-promoted) as the President of the Dean Holland Fan Club I kept a close eye over his mounts. Gleefully I noticed a good book of rides at Donald and I worked out my betting strategy for the day. Back Headingly in Race 1, all-up Frenchmans Bay Race 2 and a trifecta Race 1- 2,5 and 6. At 1.30pm I decided to watch the race and by 1.33 I had a horrible feeling in my stomach at what I’d just seen. My selection in the McEvoy colours had taken a nasty fall and my favourite jockey had been thrown into the carnage about to take place.
I was on the way to a meeting when my phone started to bing with messages and calls. I didn’t need to look to know the content. I knew he was young in jockey terms, I knew he was in good form and his percentages were on the way up, and I knew I had collected a nice all-up at Ararat on Thursday – Warchime into Way Up High – just under 60/1. Sitting in my car on Monday afternoon, I knew he had a wife and four young kids. I felt uneasy that a young man in his prime would at the simplest level provide me with no more winners and the spruiking I would do. No more texts from gambling mates asking if I was just on that Holland winner. I felt uneasy that a significant loss was about to encompass a young wife and family. A real loss, a tragedy not of the kind of the Saturday arvo punter beaten by a lip. A reminding perspective on life and its fragility.
In 2019 I went to the Ballarat Cup where Deano had a reasonable book and I had the chance to give him a yell over the fence of the mounting yard. I backed each of his rides with the only bookie I could find – Barry Barker – for no return. When I came up for the last the bookie said “Mate Holland doesn’t have a ride – you won’t know what to do!” I said “just give us 20 on William Thomas.” It saluted at 16s. Thank you Barry (and Deano). I never introduced myself as the President and only member of the Dean Holland fan club (Queensland Branch) and now it’s too late. Although if he read any of my bios on the Almanac he at least would have known he had one big fan!
I, of course backed, many of his great wins including the magnificent In Secret Newmarket this Autumn. But what about Surprise Baby in the Adelaide Cup and why was he not given the Melbourne Cup ride. That fifth could have been first if Deano had the whip. But my favourite was on a horse called The Rich Fisher at Murtoa on the first Saturday in October 2020. Normally I would have been at Randwick on Epsom Day before the NRL grand final. The Rich Fisher saluted at 14s and my usual touring mates, on a south-west Queensland tour because of COVID had the tri for 100%. 2-5-11. 14/1-50/1-15/1. Our trip was paid for. Thank you Deano.
I am having my 60th birthday on Saturday and will wear a black armband and have a drink set at the bar.
I did not look at the racepaper yesterday.
RIP Dean Holland.
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A great read Matty – Deano taken far too young. Hard to imagine how a wife and kids process how a father goes to work one morning and then doesn’t come home that afternoon. So sad.
Thanks Matty agree with your sentiments . Dean rode for me a few times and as recently as 8 weeks ago he rode Savvy Valentino for me. I would describe him as cheeky ,cheerful and always positive . His post race summations were always about how the horse was going and he was honest in his assessment of the horses ability as well as the quality of his ride .
The response to to Go Fund Me appeal gives an indication of how respected Dean was but it won’t mean he came home from work on Monday .
Terrible tragedy and perhaps a few punters need to think about the risks jockeys take before bagging them after a poor ride.
Thanks for this, Matt. Well said.
This was an absolute tragedy, and I very much feel for his wife and young family.
RIP Dean Holland
Dear Matthew
Dreadful tragedy.
Shattered, for his family.
An ode well written by the President.
No more All Ups at Moe.
Still spruiking In Secret.
A sad sad day.
Bimbibob.
Shocking. I know how much you loved him MOH. I remember you suggesting he’d be the difference for Desert Fun (still a maiden).
Thoughts are with his wife and young family.
The closer I got to racing – moving from being a mug punter to having an interest in a few horses from the mid-90s, the more the dangers of being a hoop came to the front of mind. Those who don’t know the track and the stalls and the trainers’ facilities can think of racing like we think of Keno. It’s not. It’s real. Jockeys are acutely aware of that.
October 3, 2020. Wilsonton Hotel Toowoomba. Getting ready to transition from the Epsom day meeting to the night gallops at Clifford Park, the president, full of bonhomie (and ink), suggested we each pick out a tri in the last at Murtoa. It had been an unusually successful day by our standards so why not? “Usual touring mates” 1&2 looked at each other at the winning post and confirmed zero place getters between us before the president gave us the good news. Got it, 11k dividend. Such lightning strikes are so rare you never forget the horse, the jockey, the when and the where. Losers are quickly consigned to the back of the memory bank.
That is my Dean Holland great memory and a reminder that you have to keep bowling to take wickets and loyalty is a great attribute. well done, pres.
A terrible tragedy and a sad loss.
I got out of bed Monday morning, off to work to obtain some $$ us to live on: Dean Holland did the same. As we know you don’t live to work, you work to live, but ……………
Maryanne contacted me Monday afternoon saying Donald races were abandoned after Race 1, also mentioning Dean Holland had fallen. I said to her, ‘that’s not good, hope he’s okay”. After work we caught up at the local rubbidy for a bet on the last at Townsville, Then, and only then, did we hear the horrible news. It hit like a hammer; a young man with a wife, and four little kids, was dead, killed doing a job he loved.
The Australian Jockeys Association speaks of 870 jockeys killed doing their job. To ride a big, dumb animal weighing over 500 kg’s, running at 60-70 kph an hour, is a hard existence. Having to waste, having to work long hours, to undertake this difficult job furthers the risks for jockeys. This was the job Dean Holland took on board to raise another $$ to give him and his family what is required to live on. Sadly he is now one of 32 Victorians to die at work in 2023.
I’ve long understood Health and Safety is a right not a privilege. Worksafe is investigating this tragedy, Racing Victoria, is doing the same. This won’t bring Dean Holland back but if something comes out of it to reduce the risk of further racing deaths let’s take it on board.
Condolences to Dean’s family. Vale Dean Holland.
Glen!
A sobering read to here. Thank you for posting.