Australian jockey Dean Holland has died as a result of injuries sustained in a fall during a race in regional Victoria state on Monday, Racing Victoria said. He was 34.
Holland’s death comes less than a year after jockey Taiki Yanagida died after suffering head and spinal injuries in a fall during a race in New Zealand.
The state’s horse racing authority said 34-year-old Holland was one of two jockeys dislodged from their horses in the opening race of a meeting at Donald Racecourse.
He was treated by paramedics but died at the scene. The other rider, Alana Kelly, was cleared of serious injury. Both horses — Headingley, ridden by Holland, and Time To Rumble, ridden by Kelly — were unharmed, Racing Victoria said.
“It was a tragic accident at Donald today and we are all deeply shocked and saddened that Dean has passed away,” Racing Victoria chief executive Andrew Jones said in a statement. “Dean was a gifted lightweight rider who … was highly respected by his peers.
“Dean’s passing is heartbreaking for all within Victorian racing and the sport nationally.”
Holland won a Group 1 race last month on a horse called In Secret in the Newmarket Handicap over 1,200 meters at Melbourne’s Flemington Racecourse. Racing.com listed Holland as having 1,080 career wins and over $32,000,000 in career prize money.
He started racing in 2005 and had his first winner in January 2006 at Ceduna in regional South Australia state.
Victoria State Police were preparing a report for the coroner.
The Australian Broadcasting Corp. reported that Holland was nearing the finish when his horse, Headingley, veered into the inside rail.
“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,” said Victorian Jockeys Association (VJA) Chief Executive Matt Hyland.
