Horse racing community rallies together at jockey Dean Holland’s funeral at Flemington Racecourse
Hundreds of mourners flocked to Flemington Racecourse to mourn top jockey Dean Holland at an emotion-charged service that highlighted just how loved and respected he was in the tight-knit racing fraternity.
The 34-year-old died after a sickening fall in country Victoria on April 24, leaving behind wife Lucy and four children under five: Harley, Luca, Frankie and Lily.
It threw the entire racing world into mourning, with the two-time Group 1 winner at the peak of his powers, and ready to reap the rewards of years of toil that began as a 15-year-old in his native South Australia.
Tears were flowing at the service, but there was also plenty of muted laughter for the cheeky man; and the funeral was fittingly held at the same track he nabbed the best win of his career just weeks before his death: the Newmarket Handicap.
Racing icon Bryan Martin OAM hosted the service, with Holland’s uncle Scott, sister Kirstie Arnel, mentor and ex-jockey James Winks and family representatives for both Holland and wife Lucy’s parents, reading touching tributes to a man taken far too soon.
Before his tragic death, Dean Holland took out the Newmarket Handicap – his second G1 win – after replacing Kah following her fall earlier that day. Mourners gathered at Flemington on Monday afternoon to farewell the much-loved jockey
Mourners, including members of the tight-knit racing fraternity, family and friends form a guard of honour for Holland’s casket on the famous Flemington track
It was one last lap of the Flemington straight for Holland, with hundreds turning out to mourn the much-loved jockey
Racing and sport icon Bruce McAvaney (centre) was one of the mourners to attend Holland’s funeral
A host of current jockeys, including superstar rider Craig Williams, filed into the room to pay their respects
A number of family members spoke in an emotion-charged service to farewell Holland at Flemington
Holland died in a horrific race fall in April 24, leaving behind wife Lucy and four young kids under the age of five (two pictured in a family outing)
Riding 1080 winners in a glorious career as a incredibly lightweight jockey, Martin, one of the sport’s biggest names Down Under, lauded Holland’s stunning Group 1 win to set the service off on both a tragic and inspiring note.
‘Going up there (Donald, country Victoria) for four rides, and being with his mates, his jockeys, trainers and horses at 34 years of age, he went to work and never returned home,’ he said to open the service, which was streamed live on Racing.com.
‘It’s fitting we come here to this famous racecourse at Flemington today. Here on March 11, Dean celebrated his greatest victory as a jockey.
‘He gained the ride in extraordinary circumstances after his fellow rider, Jamie Kah, crashed heavily earlier in the day.
With only one hour’s notice he was aboard In Secret for one of the world’s biggest owners, Godolphin, and he produced a masterclass ride and won.
‘(But) In superb sportsmanship, he deflected praise for the ride to Jamie, who at that stage was lying unconscious in hospital.
‘His demeanour won our hearts at the races that day, as he has done so often: Cheerful, humble, magnetic.’
But it was when Des O’Keeffe, chairman of the Australian Jockeys Association, spoke on behalf of Holland’s parents Belinda and Darren (himself a former jockey), that the emotions really began to spill over.
Holland’s (second from right) life changed the moment he met future wife Lucy (right, pictured together at the races), according to his parents
Ex-champion hoop Glen Boss looked sombre as he arrived at Holland’s funeral
Star rider Kerrin McEvoy was one of a huge contingent of jockeys to pay their respects to Holland
The pair thanked their daughter-in-law for making Holland ‘the happiest he has ever been’, in a touching tribute.
‘Everything changed when he (Holland) met the love of his life, Lucy. He was 28 and it was like he grew up overnight,’ they said of his beloved wife, Lucy.
‘He met Lucy when she was travelling in Australia, and when she went back to the UK, he quickly took a break from riding and chased her all the way over there and somehow got her to agree to settle with him in Melbourne.
‘With Lucy, we saw Dean in his happiest place, and Lucy, we love you so much and thank you for making our boy the happiest he has ever been … Proud and happy, he was thriving being dad.’
With the heartbreaking tributes that were enough to turn even the hardest to tears came the anecdotes that described how special the cheeky jokester was.
‘It won’t come as a surprise that Dean weighed in at just 5 pounds, 11 ounces. Small and special, we were beside ourselves with happiness. His zest for live gave us so much joy in his early years,’ O’Keeffe said, on behalf of Holland’s parents about the day he came into the world.
‘The ultra-competitive side of Dean first came to light at five years old when he was a member of his local karate club.
‘After showing great early promise, his future as a potential martial arts gold medallists came to a sudden halt after we got a call from a concerned Sturt Public School, who said he was using his powerful karate moves on all the kids in his prep class, starting with the biggest kids down.’
The parents, both prominent members of the racing industry in South Australia, spoke of how proud they were when he emphatically declared he wanted to be a jockey aged 14, despite ‘barely patting a horse in his life, let alone riding one’.
Holland rode over 1000 winners over a long career that began with his first professional race as a 15-year-old in South Australia
The South Australian native celebrates after winning the 2015 Adelaide Cup, one of the biggest victories of his career
They then described a somewhat surprising career change for the pocket rocket.
‘Dean also had a love for extreme sports … early in 2017, he somehow ended up a charity rodeo in Whittlesea and decided it was a great idea to enter the bull-riding contest,’ O’Keeffe said on their behalf.
‘The bull was at least 700kg and it must have had a very bad day prior to meeting Dean, because he made it very clear he was none too happy about a 46kg Dean with all his riding gear on bouncing around like a fly on its back.
‘He (Holland) didn’t last long, and that was the start and end of his rodeo career.’
Holland’s uncle Shane choked back tears as he described Lucy ‘changing Dean’s life for the better’, while sister Kirstie Arnel explained how the relationship she had with her brother was a thorn in the side of their father.
‘As kids I remember fighting like cats and dogs, and then Dad would lose his s**t. Then we’d be best buddies upstairs in our room chatting about how Dad was such a meanie,’ she joked.
‘You were the typical jockey; work hard, play even harder … I remember multiple Christmas Days where you would sleep the whole day on my couch because you were too hungover to deal with any of us.’
Holland celebrates a winner just days before his death on April 24. At his funeral on Monday afternoon many of his colleagues and mates spoke of his undeniable talent when it came to riding
Holland, who won the 2021 Geelong Cup aboard Tralee Rose, recently posted a photo of his four children, Harley, Luca, Frankie and Lily, at Geelong Racecourse in front of a sign immortalising his win
Holland’s mentor and coach, ex-jockey James Winks, cut an emotional figure, describing how one of his best mates became one of the best jockeys in the country.
‘He (Holland) was naturally gifted, and rarely made a mistake. His assets were, he never doubted his ability and he was always willing to learn and apply his trade.
‘He was five foot nothing, 45kg wringing wet – but strong as an ox.
‘I genuinely believe he stamped his authority that day (after winning the Group 1 Newmarket), showing the racing world what he was capable of.’
Winks also described how his mate was chasing his dream of riding in Hong Kong just two hours before his tragic death, reminding everyone in the room of what a bright light the industry has lost.
Holland proposed to Lucy in the shadows of Tower Bridge in London – though it didn’t go quite to plan (pictured is the pair kayaking on a holiday together)
Holland pilots Lady Pluck (no. 5) to victory in 2019. He rode over 1000 winners in his career
But it was when Lucy’s parents, Keith and Jane Clampin, told the story of the time he proposed, that sent the crowd into fits of laughter – followed by the heartbreak of knowing he was no longer here to enjoy the story.
Keith admitted ‘it required much alcoholic ingestion to calm down after the event’. The event being one of the most special moments of his life: proposing to Lucy.
‘Dean came over to the UK … and during the visit he asked if he could have a word in private. He was very nervous, I noticed, unusual for him – but he ploughed on,’ Racing Victoria’s Jockeys Assistance Program consultant Lisa Stevens said on behalf of Keith.
‘He asked if he could have Lucy’s hand in marriage. I was overjoyed, but having trouble stopping myself from laughing that this cheeky chappy thought to even ask me, and we sealed it with a glass of malt whiskey.
‘Dean explained that he wanted to propose at Tower Bridge in London … and when it was in a good position in the background I was supposed to get my phone out and that was the signal for him to get down on his knee, while I would take pictures for evidence.
‘Unfortunately, while still 200m away from the ideal spot, I thought: “This is a nice spot to take a picture of Tower Bridge!”.
‘Dean, seeing my move, went down on one knee and in a flash asked Lucy to marry him. This was outside a not very attractive café, and hardly the backdrop we had planned.
‘But Lucy’s face was a picture. There was Dean on his knee asking her to marry him, and there was her Dad shouting: “No Dean, not there!”.
‘To the man, my wife and I love deeply, Vale, Deano.’
The fundraiser for Holland’s family continues, and has now raised more than $1.7million for his wife Lucy and their four young children. You can donate here.
For all the latest Sports News Click Here