‘We’ve lost a once-in-a-lifetime person’: Dean Holland’s family pain

The family of fallen jockey Dean Holland has issued a heartbreaking statement in the wake of his tragic death.

Dean Holland after winning the Newmarket on In Secret.

The partner and parents of fallen jockey Dean Holland have issued a heartbreaking statement.

The statement is from Lucy Clampin, Belinda and Darren Holland, on behalf of themselves and the wider Holland family.

“Grief is completely overwhelming us after losing our beloved Dean yesterday (Monday) at Donald races,” the statement said.

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“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.

“Finally, as a family, we ask that we be given the privacy we need at this time as we begin to come to terms with our loss.”

Meanwhile, racing will resume at Ballarat on Wednesday after Victoria’s Anzac Day meetings were cancelled in honour of Holland.

Holland’s riding colleagues, trainers and other racing participants gathered at various venues in Melbourne and country areas to mourn the loss of the 34-year-old in a fall at Donald on Monday.

Dean Holland will be greatly missed.

Racing Victoria, after consulting the Victorian Jockeys’ Association and Australian Trainers’ Association, has decided to resume racing with a seven-race card at Ballarat.

The second race at Ballarat has been renamed the In Honour of Dean Holland while all jockeys will wear black armbands throughout the day to pay their respects to the father of four.

RV has also announced changes to upcoming race schedules to accommodate important races that were intended to be run at Flemington on Tuesday.

The $150,000 William Newton VC Handicap (2000m), featuring the unbeaten galloper White Marlin, will be run as the first race of Thursday evening’s Pakenham meeting.

The race is a vital lead-up to the Melbourne Cup qualifier, the Andrew Ramsden, at Flemington on May 13.

The Listed VRC St Leger will be run on Saturday at Sandown but will be extended to 3000m because of the inability to run a 2800m race on the Sandown Hillside track.

Saturday’s Sandown meeting will become a 10-race card with the addition of the Listed Anzac Day Stakes for two-year-olds.

All scratchings for the three rescheduled Flemington races will be reinstated.

Originally published as ‘We’ve lost a once-in-a-lifetime person’: Dean Holland’s family pain