Group 1-winning jockey Dean Holland has been airlifted to hospital in a critical condition after a sickening race fall in country Victoria, leaving the racing world in shock.The 34-year-old was riding Tony McEvoy gelding Headingley in the first race at Donald, 280km north-west of Melbourne, when he was involved in a fall described by onlookers as ‘sickening’.
Miraculously, both mounts appear to have avoided injury, and ran away from the scene, while Kelly was able to walk back to the scales. Holland was treated on-course by medical personnel, before being airlifted to a Melbourne hospital in a critical condition.
Holland was thrown to the turf when the three-year-old gelding moved sharply to the inside rail before falling as the field turned for home at the top of the straight. Alana Kelly and her mount Time to Rumble were then also brought down, with the full force and weight of both horses appear to land on Holland, who remained prone on the turf.
The Victorian Jockeys Association said in a statement that Holland’s injuries were ‘critical’ and would advise on any further updates. It is not known yet what specific injuries he has suffered.
The veteran jockey has ridden 1080 winners during a superb career, which includes Group 1 wins in the Newmarket Handicap in March and Australasian Oaks in Adelaide, where he cut his teeth as a rider. The meeting was abandoned after the fall, with the racing world rallying around the popular hoop, who has been in strong form – with 82 winners already this season in Victoria.
Fellow jockeys Stephanie Thompson and Dean Yendall immediately tweeted prayer emojis for their colleague, with the former writing she was praying for Holland and ‘his wife and kids’. One punter called it the ‘most sickening fall I have seen’, with another writing it was ‘so sad to see this happening far too often’ – after a spate of very serious race falls involving superstar riders Jamie Kah and Craig Williams, as well as top hoops Ethan Brown and Teo Nugent in the last few months.
It started with Ethan Brown suffering internal injuries after a fall in the Group 1 Australian Guineas at Flemington on March 4, before Kah and Craig Williams were rushed to hospital after a horrifying fall in the Sires Produce Stakes on March 12.
Kah’s head injury was so significant (though she has been cleared of brain bleeding and fractures, she remains in hospital) partner Ben Melham said she had to be ‘heavily sedated to allow her brain to rest’ after the accident.
Williams’ injury list was also significant, suffering a fractured collarbone, broken ribs, fractured finger and concussion as a result of the fall. Just a week later, Teo Nugent was left with a fractured C1 vertebrae and his mount Florescent Star had to be euthanized after being involved with a nasty fall on All Star Mile day at Mooney Valley.
