‘That one’s for Deano’.
They were the words from jockey Todd Parnelll after winning the opening race at Adelaide’s Anzac Day race meeting at Gawler on Tuesday.
South Australian-born jockey Dean Holland died in a race fall at the Victorian country meeting at Donald on Monday and was remembered by his fellow riders on Tuesday.
Holland’s father Darren is a former jockey and now a Steward in the South-East of South Australia, and his mother Belinda a racing administrator in that part of the state.
“Condolences to the Holland family – Darren, Belinda and (sister) Kirstie,” Parnell told racing.com after riding Ballon D’Or to victory.
“I have known the family since I was a kid and it’s a sad day for racing and Dean’s immediate family as well as Lucy and the four kids.
“Condolences to them.
“That one’s for Deano.”
Fellow jockey Kayla Crowther said there was a ‘different vibe’ than normal at Gawler.
“I didn’t know Dean that well, but it’s super sad,” Crowther said.
“I’ve got to know Belinda really well down in the South-East and I know how she must be feeling. My heart goes out to her and his family and close friends.
“It is really a different vibe around the races today.”
As a mark of respect, Dom Tourneur elected to stand down from riding on Tuesday, handing his solitary and winning ride aboard Utah Joe to Sophie Logan.
After calling off Anzac Day meetings in Victoria at Flemington and Moe, racing will resume at Ballarat on Wednesday, although Racing Victoria chief executive Andrew Jones told racing.com there may be some jockeys that do not wish to ride.
“It’s always a challenging question when to get back to work,” Jones said.
“It was an easy decision to cancel today’s racing (but) in consultation with the Trainers’ Association and the Jockeys’ Association, the decision was made to resume tomorrow.
“Some jockeys will not want to ride, and some will literally want to get back on the horse.
“We owe it to them to let them get back to work and get busy.”
A ‘gofundme’ page, set up by owner/breeder Tony Ottobre, who races many of the ‘Jenni’ horses and pledging $100,000, has become the official fundraising mechanism for RV.
“Racing Victoria will make a donation of $100,000 to that, matching Tony’s personal pledge and those monies will be placed into a trust for Lucy and the four children,” Jones said.
Holland’s family, including his partner Lucy Clampin and parents, issued a statement on Tuesday of the grief that had overcome them following Dean’s death.
“We are aware of thousands who are sharing our pain as we come to the reality we have lost a once-in-a-lifetime person, a much-loved partner, an amazing father of four beautiful young children in Harley, Luca, Frankie and Lily, as well as a special brother and a wonderful son.
“The outpouring of love for Dean and the care and support for us is helping us deal with our loss.
“We are thinking of Dean’s colleagues in the jockeys’ room as well as all in our industry that he loved so much.”