Top Aussie jockeys Ryan Hurdle, Sheriden Tomlinson out punter’s despicable Dean Holland messages
Two Australian jockeys have fallen victim to horrific online abuse where a gambler sent them messages containing savage references to the late hooper Dean Holland.
Holland tragically died after falling off his horse on April 24 during a race in the country of Victoria.
Daily Mail Australia has chosen not to publish the name of the person who sent the abusive messages.
South Australian jockey Ryan Hurdle got the message:” ‘Oi c*** hang yourself for me!! You cost me a goddamn $220 with Wiley West.’
When the hoop playfully told the person they were a “s***house punter” and offered to pay them back, the worst messages came through.
“I hope you drop the fuck off your future race and die like Dean Holland, the useless son of a bitch … the son of a bitch dying cost me 250.”
Holland in the picture with his family. He is survived by his grieving wife and four children after a tragic death on April 24 during a race
Pictured: The exchange between Hurdle and the gambler on the Facebook Messenger app where the gambler posted mean comments about the Netherlands
Hurdle shared the gambler’s sickening posts through his social media with the caption ‘name and shame’
Hurdle shared the posts on social media with the caption “name and shame.”
As if that wasn’t mean enough, the same gambler then targeted the 23-year-old South Australian jockey Sheriden Tomlinson.
“Oi c*** I hope you crash like Dean Holland in your next race,” he told the rising race star.
Tomlinson also shared the message he received, posting, “There are seriously low race people out there.
“It’s one thing to go out of your way and find a jockey’s account and send them an abusive message, but wishing death and showing no respect to a jockey who has died is disgusting.
“The racing community is still mourning. Must stop.’
The Australian racing community is still in shock and mourning the death of jockey Dean Holland, whose funeral will take place on Monday
Pictured: The messages Hurdle and Tomlinson received. Daily Mail Australia chose not to name the person who sent the social media messages
Tomlinson is only 23 and was subjected to the hateful messages for not riding a winner where a gambler had his money on
The Netherlands was riding the Tony McEvoy gelding Headingley in race one at Donald, 280km northwest of Melbourne, on April 24 when disaster struck.
As the field entered the top of the straight, the three-year-old gelding made a sudden move towards the inside rail, throwing Holland onto the turf before the horse fell in an incident that witnesses said was ‘sickening’.
The incident escalated when Alana Kelly and her mount Time to Rumble also fell and the weight of both horses landed on Holland.
Medical staff attended to Holland en route before he was airlifted to a hospital in Melbourne in critical condition.
Victoria Police confirmed his death shortly after 4pm. Holland is survived by his wife and four children.
Race fans quickly rallied around Hurdle, Tomlinson and Holland’s family to condemn the abusive gambler.
“These are the people who should be banned from betting and never going to a race track,” one of them replied to Tomlinson.
“I’m so sorry you have to go through this. What a disgusting piece of work that person is. That’s as bad as it gets,” added another.
Tomlinson has taken to social media to report the perpetrator, saying “people higher up are investigating.”
“You absolutely did the right thing here by calling this out, completely unacceptable on all levels,” one supporter responded.
‘That’s as bad as I’ve seen! Nauseating! I will always stand for you and I will continue to defend you on social media,” another wrote.
Athletes abused online by disgruntled gamblers have become a red button in a range of sports.
Latrell Mitchell has been a victim of abuse from fans on multiple occasions and last year stood up for his former teammate Jaxson Paulo after the young winger committed similar assaults.
Souths forward Jai Arrow has called gamblers who abuse players ‘cowards’ for their actions and was angered by the abuse sent to Paulo
In late 2022, NRL players Latrell Mitchell and Jai Arrow came out to defend young winger Jaxson Paulo, who was subjected to a barrage of online abuse for playing a poor game.
“Everything I hear is about multis and stuff and to be honest I don’t really want to hear about it… when you put your money on the line, you take your own risk,” Mitchell said.
“Now it’s about keeping your opinion to yourself and keeping your mouth shut.”
“It makes me pretty angry, especially because I’ve had a backlash like this before. With Jackson, he didn’t deserve what he got,” Arrow added.
“They’re a bunch of cowards.”
Geelong Cats stalwart Patrick Dangerfield said player abuse via social media is a weekly occurrence in the AFL
AFL club St Kilda released this statement after one of their players and his family were targeted by abusive trolls online
The abuse also happened in the AFL, with Geelong champion Patrick Dangerfield previously revealing it happened every week.
“Unfortunately, most players experience this on a weekly basis,” said Dangerfield.
“It’s not always reported, but whether they see one message or a few, it affects you as a player.
We have to remember that players are people. They have feelings just like everyone else and these cowardly keyboard warriors bolt out late at night after being on the punt or on the p*** or whatever it may be.
“It’s just unacceptable. If you’re not willing to say it to someone’s face, what gives you the right to abuse, death threat, whatever it may be against people you don’t even know. It’s hugely concerning and something that’s been going on for a while.”
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