Brent Holland wins 5,000th career race
June 23, 2017,by Frank Drucker, Publicity Director, Yonkers Raceway
Yonkers, NY — Driver Brent Holland won the 5,000th race of his career Friday night (June 23), doing so at his place of residence, Yonkers Raceway.
![](http://ustrottingnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/75439-DelightfulDragon062317st.jpg)
Georgia Panagi photo
Brent Holland captured his 5,000th career race with Delightful Dragon at Yonkers Raceway on Saturday night.
Holland and Delightful Dragon ($7.40) lasted on the lead by a scant schnoz in the sixth race, a $40,000 Filly and Mare Preferred Handicap Pace, giving the 46-year-old, as of this past Sunday, the milestone in a season’s-best 1:53.2 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 this 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.