Top European Jockey Holland To Ride At Woodbine

Having ridden here, there and everywhere, British-born jockey Darryl Holland has announced that he will spend the 2020 season in Canada at Woodbine.

“I've always been interested in racing in Canada,” Holland said. “I have been there for the international race meeting. The facilities at Woodbine are second to none, and it's a racetrack that is right up there with the best of them. So, it's kind of like unfinished business for me there. I've decided to ride a full season there.”

That is if he can get there. Holland's plans could be upended by the coronavirus as Canada is one of many nations that has placed severe restrictions on foreigners coming into the country. Holland is hoping for the best.

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“The Canadian Prime Minister has said no foreigners can travel into the country unless you're a returning national,” he said. “I do have a work permit there. I've got a special dispensation to come there because I was going to be an asset to Canada. I think at the moment they've just put this ban in place for 30 days, so I'll have more of an update then and then I'll come over. The season in Canada doesn't start until the 18th of April, so we've still got time.”

Once he does arrive, Holland will try to establish himself in a jockey colony that will be a lot different than the one that was in place in 2019. Eurico Da Silva has won every riding title at Woodbine 2015, but has retired to pursue a career as a life coach and to spend more time with his family. Da Silva won 182 races at Woodbine last year.

“He rode more than 180 winners there last year and that's a hell of a lot of winners to be distributed to other jockeys,” Holland said. “Hopefully, some of those winners will be coming my way.”

The 47-year-old veteran got off to a fast start in his career. In 1991, he was named British champion apprentice and within a few years he was a regular presence in Group I races. He has won nine in Great Britain and one each in France and Ireland. Ask him who was the best horse he ever rode and he doesn't hesitate. It is Falbrav (Ire) (Fairy King), who was trained by Luca Cumani. He won three stakes aboard him and finished third, beaten just a head, in the 2003 GI Breeders' Cup Turf.

“He was a fantastic race horse, just had everything,” Holland said. “He had speed, he had balance, he had stamina, and he had a turn of foot. He was just a delight.

Complete horse is what he was. He was a delight to ride and had a great temperament to go with everything else.”

Over the years, his opportunities in the U.K. started to drop off, so Holland traveled around the globe in search of places where he could be assured he would win races. In 2017, he was brought to South Florida by trainer Patrick Biancone and spent much of the year riding in the U.S.

“I decided I wanted to try the circuit at Gulfstream Park and Patrick helped me out enormously when I was there and put me up on a few mounts and winners,” Holland said. “I like the way of life in North America. You're at the same race meets for three or four months on end and it's without all the travel you get elsewhere. It's a lot less wear and tear on your body. By my riding abroad in various different countries around the world, it just gives me a bit more longevity to perform in the saddle, which I'm thankful for.

He has ridden in 20 countries, including Canada, where he is 0-for-3 and has not ridden since 2006. The list includes major racing venues like England and Japan and off-the-beaten-track countries like Trinidad, Sweden and Austria. Since his time at Gulfstream, he has ridden mainly in South Korea and Mauritius.

Holland said the key to success when riding in a new country is to persevere.

“You've just got to stick to what you've always been doing,” he said. “Ultimately, you're job is to make a horse run fast, and luckily I've been able to do that many times all over the world. I think you can never rest on your laurels. You've got to take a new approach, whatever country you've gone to. You've got to learn how to adapt, which is crucially important for a jockey. You have to adapt to different situations in a race, which I've managed to do. Racing is different all around the world.”

Holland's past accomplishments probably won't mean much to Canadian horsemen. But he is proud that he has held his own with the best riders in the world, has won on every surface possible and learned what it takes to win in North America when he rode at Gulfstream. He is ready for a new challenge.

“I hope that people will recognize my past achievements and my experience, which you can't buy,” he said. “I've got a wealth of experience behind me and, hopefully, I can put that to good stead when I'm there.”