VALE DEAN HOLLAND: "He'd Never Been In A Better Place"

Of course, it is a day to “lest we forget”.

To not just remember the estimated 8000 the Australia War Memorial counts as losses at Gallipoli but the over 100,000 that have died in service for the country in all wars.

It should not be to count the death of Dean Holland to add to the near 900 casualties the National Jockeys Trust list from the track. But we do and we will.

So stark and raw the loss, that Victorian jockeys would not proceed with the Australian tradition of Anzac Day races and of a game two-up after the last today.

Social media was littered with “fly high”, “rest in peace”, “gone to soon” messages – all surely heart felt with “thoughts and prayers” for Dean’s wife Lucy, four children under four - Harley, Luca, Frankie and Lily - and his grief-stricken parents Darren (a former jockey) and Belinda (CEO at the Penola Race Club in their native South Australia).

Dean Holland's four children in front of a billboard of their dad winning the Geelong Cup.

James Winks, former jockey, had been mentor to Holland for the past two-and-a-half years, had spoken to him at 11.57am on the fateful way to Donald yesterday, as they were putting finishing touches on an application for a licence to the Hong Kong Jockey Club.

“He was airborne, and I just put it to him to strike while the iron was hot. He’d never been in better place and was so driven.

“He always wanted to broaden his horizons, we had worked on his resume, he’d discussed with his wife about taking the kids and we were in the process, and he was ready to go,” Winks said.

That process obviously abruptly ended yesterday but not Winks’ role. And not one that he will shy away from.

Apart from mentoring Holland, Winks has a long list of Victoria’s other riders, as well as a squad in Sydney to be there for.

“There was no way they were going to ride today, I’m glad they called them off, they are all handling it differently which is natural, some better than others, one just can’t talk, even myself, I go through all the emotions and thinks it’s f …ed’” he said.

But the professionalism in Winks had the jockeys rallying for a beer at the Ascot Vale Hotel after lunch today – “just to get around each other.”

He had already called his Sydney based riders, Brenton Avdulla, Sam Clipperton and Reagan Bayliss to make sure they we re ok to ride at Randwick today. “I just wanted them to tell me that once they were on the horse and the barriers opened, they could focus on the job but if there were any second thoughts, they shouldn’t ride.”

“But when it hits home, I look at my own family and kids and friends. The GoFundMe stuff is good (owner Tony “Jenni” Ottobre, himself a one-time jockey, started it up and donated $100,000), but it’s the long term, I want to make sure I am there for the rest of their lives,” Winks said.

Winks and Holland spoke every day, they last saw each other at the Freestyle Kings Motorbike Show at Rod Laver Arena only a few weeks ago.

Winks remembers riding against Holland’s father Darren during his career and recalls an altercation with Dean in the jockey’s room at Wangaratta one day, but fondly looks back now as proudly sharing Holland’s rise in his career.

“I remember when I was riding against him, I could see him making mistakes, getting too close to heels, that sort of stuff, that’s what started the punch-up at Wang, but we ended up with a great friendship, we didn’t always agree, but he came to me for help, which is always a great sign, and I could see he learned from a few little tricks I taught him but it in the end it was all about self-belief and positivity,” Winks said.

“I enjoyed every minute of the trip. And he made me a better coach and mentor. Just 34, he had so much more to give.”

“When we had meetings, he could be last to leave and still going on, but once he turned up for the races, he was a thorough professional.”

Mick Cornish, who trains with his partner Donna Gaskin at Echuca, knows only too well the “last to leave’ Holland.

“He still owes me for accommodation one night when he was meant to be coming to ride trackwork (Cerberus) for us. I think it was after Swan Hill and he never showed up to the hotel or the track,” Cornish said.

“He could be a bugger like that, always cheeky, enjoying life, especially the night life, but he was infectious, cheeky with it, but his peers loved him.

“He could start a stink in the jockey’s room over something, then go outside for a cigarette and let them sort it out and there would be no hard feelings,” Cornish said.

Cornish had first met a 14-year-old Holland when he and Donna took General Bayton to Adelaide for the carnival in 2005, Darren being the jockey. It ran second to Bomber Bill in the Group 3 Malaysia Stakes as a lead-up to the Goodwood, where it finished unplaced behind Glamour Puss.

“Darren and Belinda basically took us in, Dean was cheeky as all shit back then, but we’d end up going on family holidays to Bali together. Dean would eventually go back to Bali just to get tattoos, when most would go for a break, he’d be getting more ink,” Cornish said.

Dean became the most successful rider for Cornish and Gaskin, riding 21 winners and sharing some plunges and fun times.

“He was the cheekiest bloke in racing but had the personality to get away with it. Even when he’d miss trackwork, there was an excuse but when he was there, he was a great judge,” Cornish said.

Holland’s last ride for Cornish and Gaskin was February 23 at Stawell, he was due to ride Sturdy Time for them at Seymour on Thursday.

“He was a flamboyant kid and a real family man, he loved the kids and to see him develop into a dedicated father was something special, he met Lucy on a plane, she was a flight attendant from England, so hopefully the industry and friends can rally around them all.”

Dean was "the cheekiest bloke in racing but had the personality to get away with it. "

Cornish knows the experience only too well when Mikeala Claridge, who was apprenticed to their stable was killed in a training accident at Cranbourne.

“Dean was a great help to her in those days,” said Cornish, who now battles not only their losses but the dreams of his own 10-year-old daughter Mia Rose to become a jockey.

“She rode in the pony race at The Valley recently and was interviewed on racing.com, Dean came out to watch her, she just wants to ride. She’s at pony club, she was inspired by Mikaela, and now this with Dean, it just makes you wonder, but sometimes you just can’t stop them, it’s their dream and their passion.”