YONKERS, NY, Friday, June 23, 2017 – Harness racing 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 schnoz in the 6th 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) mile.
The affable Holland is a native of Wilmington, OH, 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," Holland said.
Asked for some winner's circle wit, Holland offered that 'The horse did all the work.' In the case, the hard-working lass-now 4-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.
Holland and Delightful Dragon
Frank Drucker