Holland fundraiser tips over $500,000
A Gofundme fundraiser for the family of the late Dean Holland was launched within 24 hours of the jockey’s death and, at the time of writing, it has raised over $500,000 for Holland’s wife Lucy and their four children.
The page was created by Tony Ottobre in Victoria, who made a personal donation of $100,000, and overnight and into Tuesday it had attracted over 2000 donations. Dean Holland died as a result of his injuries from a fall on Monday afternoon at Donald. His death has incurred widespread grief across the racing industry.
On Tuesday, Racing Victoria released a statement on behalf of the Holland family, in particular from his partner Lucy and his parents, Belinda and Darren Holland.
Dean Holland | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“Grief is completely overwhelming us after losing our beloved Dean yesterday at Donald races,” the statement read. “We are aware of the 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’ rooms, as well all in our industry that he loved so much.”
The statement requested privacy as the Holland family comes to terms with its loss and, in the meanwhile, Racing Victoria has pledged $100,000 to the fundraising effort, with all money raised eventually going into a trust to support the family.
Ballarat race renamed for Holland
Racing will resume in Victoria on Wednesday, with the second race of Ballarat’s midweek meeting to be renamed the ‘In Honour of Dean Holland’. Jockeys will wear black armbands throughout the day in recognition of Holland.
In addition, Racing Victoria has implemented changes to its scheduled meetings in lieu of the cancelled Anzac Day meetings at Flemington and Moe on Tuesday. The $150,000 William Newton VC H. has been added to Pakenham’s Thursday night card, with all scratchings reinstated and the race retaining its metropolitan status. This race is considered an important lead-up to the Melbourne Cup golden ticket event, the Listed Andrew Ramsden S. at Flemington on May 13.
Respective races have also been added to Geelong on Friday, Sandown on Saturday and Horsham on Sunday, with Racing Victoria satisfied that these amendments are sufficient to cater for the displaced runners from the abandoned and cancelled meetings at Donald on Monday and Flemington and Moe on Tuesday.
David Hayes remembers Holland
The Hong Kong-based David Hayes shared his devastation on Tuesday at the death of Dean Holland in Victoria. Hayes told Racing.com that Holland was a brilliant young apprentice back in the day.
David Hayes | Image courtesy of the Hong Kong Jockey Club
“He was a tiny little fellow with a lovely personality and a very good worker,” he said. “He was a good rider, one you’d certainly trust to get the job done and it was wonderful to see him pick up that ride for Godolphin in the Newmarket. I think there were a lot of people who got a real kick out of that. He was a very popular fellow, really happy, friendly, no nonsense and he was a model apprentice.”
Dean Holland died as a result of his injuries from a fall on Monday afternoon at Donald. His death has incurred widespread grief across the racing industry.
Bayliss suspended for 19 days
Racing NSW stewards handed down a 19-day suspension to jockey Regan Bayliss on Monday in respect of his riding Pride Of Jenni (Pride Of Dubai) in the G2 JRA Plate on April 15. Two days after the race, managing owner of Pride Of Jenni, Tony Ottobre, submitted a written appeal to stewards in complaint of Bayliss not riding to instructions.
Bayliss pleaded not guilty to being in breach of AR129(2), but having considered all relevant matters in respect to penalty, including it being the first occasion Bayliss had been issued such an offence in over 10 years of riding, stewards delivered a 19-day suspension to commence on May 1 and to expire on May 20.
Rule AR129 states a rider must take all reasonable and permissible measures throughout the race to ensure that the rider’s horse is given full opportunity to win or to obtain the best possible place in the field.
Secret Glamour claims Anzac Day Cup
The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained Secret Glamour (Sebring) claimed Tuesday’s Anzac Day Cup (BM78) over 2400 metres at Randwick-Kensington. Bringing up the fourth win of her career, Secret Glamour won by 1.96l from Yarrawonga (Ire) (Australia {Ire}) and Casual Connection (NZ) (Complacent). The 4-year-old mare was a $270,000 yearling purchase by Ciaron Maher Racing from the draft of Bhima Thoroughbreds at the 2020 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Secret Glamour is due to be sold at the 2023 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale in May, where she will be consigned by Ciaron Maher Racing as Lot 633.
The Racketeer for Brisbane targets
The Proisir colt The Racketeer (NZ) earned himself a chance at Brisbane’s winter carnival on Tuesday with a win in the opening event at Avondale’s meeting. Trained by Shaune Ritchie and Colm Murray, the colt was an early leader and proved strong at the line for his third career victory. Ritchie, who is currently on the Gold Coast with the 3-year-old filly Maurizma (Maurice {Jpn}), told NZ Racing Desk that the 3-year-old The Racketeer had done enough on Tuesday to warrant a trip to Australia.
“He had to win today to justify a trip to Brisbane, and he’s got the job done,” the co-trainer said. “He is still growing and is a pretty laid-back customer who we think will really suit the tracks in Queensland.”
The Racketeer (NZ) | Image courtesy of Trish Dunell
The Racketeer will be joined in Brisbane by stablemate and European import Mahrajaan (USA) (Kitten’s Joy {USA}), who will likely consider the G2 Brisbane Cup over two miles at Eagle Farm on June 10.
Murwillumbah postponed
Murwillumbah races in New South Wales were postponed on Tuesday after Race 2, owing to the surface being unsafe to continue with. A stewards’ inspection alongside the meeting’s riders concluded that horses were slipping and, on the basis of not being able to gain safe footing, the rest of the card was postponed.
Bidding to open on Sir Patrick Dispersal
Bidding opens on Wednesday morning at 10am NZDT (8am AEST) on the Sir Patrick Hogan Unreserved Dispersal Sale, hosted by Gavelhouse Plus. The 31-horse catalogue includes carefully curated matings that span multiple generations of Cambridge Stud families, with pinhook and end-users ready to avail of opportunities.
Inspections have been ongoing throughout the last fortnight, with the final countdown due to commence at 7pm NZT (5pm AEST) on Friday, April 28.
Jockeys’ Guild to conduct mental wellness survey
The American-based Jockeys’ Guild, in partnership with the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA), commenced an anonymous mental wellness survey via text and email on Monday. The survey is designed to seek rider input on how to best support the health and welfare of jockeys, and possibly others in the industry, and results will be submitted to FGS Global, an independent research company.
In addition to text and email, other individuals and organisations will be reaching out to jockeys riding across the United States to assist them in taking the survey. Combined data will be shared and the final results will be reviewed by HISA and the Jockeys’ Guild to serve as a starting point for building a framework that will address the most important health and safety needs of American riders.
Audrey Otto dies in Kentucky
Kentucky breeder Audrey ‘Tolie’ Otto died this month after a lengthy illness, his longtime friend Headley Bell, of Mill Ridge Farm, announced recently. A native of St Louis, Otto moved to Lexington in the late 1980s and bred and raced a number of top runners under the stable name Jamm Ltd.
Audrey Otto, Alice Chandler and Dr. John Chandler at the 1999 GI Spinster S. at Keeneland | Image courtesy of Mill Ridge Farm
Among the notable names Otto owned, bred or raced were the stakes winner Keeper Hill (USA) (Deputy Minister {USA}) and the stakes producers Hamba (USA) (Easy Goer {USA}), dam of the Grade 1 winner Monba (USA) (Maria’s Mon {USA}), and Shop Again (USA) (Wild Again {USA}), dam of the Grade 1 winner Power Broker (USA) (Pulpit {USA}).
