20th April 2006 : Jason Holder, (Stubby as he is known), lives at Ashmore and has been riding for more than 14 years. Coming to Qld from SA he is one of the most experienced riders currently in Brisbane, having ridden over a 1000 winners from more than 5000 rides. Jason has won 3 Group 1 races (Adelaide Cup, SA Derby and the Goodwood Hcp), 50 Group 3’s and 46 Listed races.
His biggest thrill was running 3rd in the 96 Melbourne Cup on the roughie Skybeau, in the race won by Saintly. He has ridden winners in Macau and Hong Kong, and rates Gold Guru as the best horse he has ridden. One of his biggest disappointments in racing was not getting his Hong Kong contract renewed after he suffered a suspension on his first winner which put him out of action at a time when he had just started to establish himself.
He loves the thrill of riding a winner and relaxes by spending time with his 5 year-old daughter and going to the movies. Like most jockeys he doesn’t enjoy wasting and hates putting in a bad ride, saying he is tough on himself as any owner or trainer could be.
Jason credits most of his learning to Leon McDonald who he was apprenticed to and had a 14 year working relationship with. Of todays current riders he feels Damien Oliver, Darren Beadman and Michael Cahill to be the ones he admires the most.
