Family describe Holland as a ‘once in a lifetime person’ as fundraiser surpasses $600,000

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The family of rider Dean Holland, who died in a race fall at Donald on Monday, has described their late husband, son and father as a ‘once in a lifetime person’ and added that they’re ‘overwhelmed with grief’ as they come to terms with his death. 

The statement, delivered jointly by Holland’s wife, Lucy Camplin, parents Darren and Belinda, and on behalf of Holland and Camplin’s four children Harley, Luca, Frankie and Lily, has asked for privacy as they grieve for their loss.

A fundraiser has been organised to support the family, with its total as of yesterday evening reaching $600,027, and including a $100,000 donation from Racing Victoria.

The joint statement, released yesterday afternoon, said: “Grief is completely overwhelming us after losing our beloved Dean yesterday at Donald races.

“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.”

Holland, a two-time Group 1-winning jockey, died after his mount Headingley (Caravaggio) collided with a rail, dislodging the 34-year-old. Paramedics treated him on course, but he died at the scene.

On Monday evening a fundraiser to help Camplin and their four children was set up on Go Fund Me by racehorse owner Tony Ottebre, who himself has donated $100,000 and which has received more than 1,700 individual donations.

Racing Victoria yesterday pledged $100,000 to the fundraiser, while an anonymous donor has left $50,000, with the total amount raised yesterday afternoon to $584,000, surpassing the target of $500,000 at around 5.30pm yesterday evening.

Racing NSW has also pledged $20,000 to help support the family.

Tributes continued to flow for Holland, who will be honoured today with a race named in his memory at Ballarat.

David Hayes, for whom Holland rode as an apprentice from the age of 18, described Dean as having a ‘lovely personality’.

“It’s devastating news,” Hayes told Racing.com from Hong Kong, where he now trains. “He was a tiny little fellow with a lovely personality and a very good worker.

“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 [In Secret] 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.

“We feel so much for his wife and his four tiny kids. I am sure the industry will rally around them and make sure they’re ok going into the future.”

Several of Holland’s weighing room colleagues also paid their respects to the rider yesterday.

Todd Pannell, who won the opening race at Gawler yesterday, said: “Condolences to the Holland family. I’ve known the family since I was a young kid. It’s a sad day for racing.

“That one’s for Deano.”

Andrew Mallyon paid tribute to Holland on Twitter.

“It was an honour to be your mate,” he said. “Some of my funniest memories are of us making questionable decisions over too many beers with the boys, that made great stories. Condolences to Lucy and his loved ones in this difficult time.”

Sam Clipperton, after riding a winner at Randwick yesterday, paid tribute to Holland.

“Speaking for the whole racing fraternity. Dean Holland is very much in our hearts today,” he said.

“Sending my most heartfelt condolences to his lovely family, beautiful kids and whole Victorian jockeys’ room and everyone that had anything to do with Dean. It’s shocking news.”