Yonkers: Brent Holland drives his 5,000th winner

Driver Brent Holland won the 5,000th race of his career Friday night (June 23th), doing so at his place of residence, Yonkers Raceway.

Holland and Delightful Dragon ($7.40) lasted on the lead by a scant nose in the sixth race $40,000 Filly and Mare Preferred Handicap Pace, giving the 46-year-old (as of this past Sunday) the milestone (season’s-best 1:53 2/5) mile.

The affable Holland is a native of Wilmington, Ohio, who began working with horses for a neighbor, Maynard Hagemeyer.

"He and Bob Farrington in Chicago both taught me a lot," Holland said.

His first winner came in in his first parimutuel start, as an 18-year-old with longshot E C's Best in 1989 at Lebanon Raceway..."pouring down rain," he said. "When I won my first, I used to look up to all the great drivers and never thought about a number like 5,000."

Asked for some winner’s circle wit, Holland offered that, "The horse did all the work."

In the case, the hard-working lass—now four-for-18 this season—is a 6-year-old daughter of Bettor’s Delight owned and trained by Noel Daley.

Holland, who migrated east from the Chicagoland circuit not quite a decade ago, has more than $54.2 million in career purses. He was joined by his wife, Dee, and friends for a winner's circle presentation.

--press release (Yonkers)--