Hyland was born in Port Fairy in 1941.[3] His riding career extended from 1956 to 1990 and produced 2,382 winners, including 30 winners in Group 1 races.[4][3] He famously won Australian horseracing's four grand slam races – a Melbourne Cup (What A Nuisance), a Caulfield Cup (Affinity), a Golden Slipper (Vain) and a W. S. Cox Plate (Star Affair). He also won the Victoria Derby on Craftsman and Silver Sharpe, rode the champion sprinter Vain throughout his career and had the rare distinction of winning the VRC Oaks both as a jockey and a trainer, riding Rom's Stiletto in 1982 and preparing Saleous in 1995. At the 1964 Flemington autumn carnival, Hyland won the Newmarket Handicap (Rashlore) on the first day, the Australian Cup (Grand Print) on the Monday, the C. M. Lloyd Stakes (Samson) on the Thursday and the Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Grand Print) on the final day, winning the four feature races at the meeting.
He began a training career when he retired from riding. He trained more than 500 winners; his Group 1 successes included the Cox Plate, which he had also won as a jockey.[4][3]
Hyland and his wife Maree had six children: a daughter and five sons. He died on 2 March 2026 at the age of 84.[3]
