Police have confirmed leading jockey Dean Holland died at the scene, after he sustained critical injuries when he was thrown to the ground in a shocking fall during a race on Monday.
Holland, 34, was aboard Headingley when the horse ducked in and fell as the field entered the straight during a maiden race, the first on the card at Donald in Victoria, bringing down another runner.
Alana Kelly, who was on the other faller, got up and walked in but paramedics rushed to Holland’s side and summoned an air ambulance. However, he could not be saved and the rest of the meeting was abandoned. Both horses were unhurt.
A statement from Victoria Police said: “He was worked on by paramedics but sadly died at the scene. Work Safe have been notified and will investigate. The death is not being treated as suspicious.”
Racing in Victoria has endured a spate of serious falls in recently weeks which have put top riders Jamie Kah, Ethan Brown, Craig Williams and Teo Nugent in hospital
Holland, who was married with four children, was having his best campaign in the saddle and was in fourth place in the Victoria jockeys premiership with 82 wins.
Last month he enjoyed the biggest victory of his career when he replaced the injured Kah to win the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap on Godolphin’s In Secret at Flemington. It was the same day Kah and Williams had suffered falls.
He said afterwards: "First of all, what I didn't want to do was carry on, win, lose or draw with what happened with Jamie and Willo.
"My thoughts go out to them. I'm just the lucky one that was able to ride light today and picked up the ride on one of Australia's best sprinters."
