The Legendary Jockey: What Lies Ahead as Horse Racing's Greatest Icon Exits the Stage?

The journey has been a thrilling, glorious and sometimes bumpy ride, yet now, it appears Frankie Dettori's decision is final. The most storied rider over the last 40 years is set to enter retirement after the main card at the Breeders’ Cup in Del Mar this Saturday, where he has three opportunities to secure one last top-tier victory to nearly 300 on his record already. Racing may not see a career quite like it again.

A Household Name

Alongside Lester Piggott and maybe John McCririck over the past half-century, “Frankie” registers with pretty much everyone, without needing a last name. People know who he is, even if they have no interest at all in what he does. In today's world which has become divided by digital platforms and online networks, Dettori may well be the final equestrian personality who will ever enjoy such instant name-recognition across a broad swathe of Britain's people.

His entire career in the sport, in fact, dates back to an era when A Question Of Sport often attracted more than 10 million audience members, and his three-year role as a team captain was sufficient to cement him as the bubbly, irrepressible face of racing. His final year on the show came in 2004, that was also the year when he won the top jockey award for a third and final time. For many in the UK, though, he has probably been the top jockey in most years since.

A Hard-Earned Fame

This is, in many ways, a hard-earned fame, a mixed blessing for incidents on and off the racecourse which have often pushed Dettori into the headlines, since that memorable day at Ascot in 1996 when he overcame odds of 25,000-1 to ride all seven winners that day.

Back in June 2000, he was rescued from the burning wreckage of a light aircraft by fellow jockey, Ray Cochrane, after a crash during takeoff where the pilot was killed. When at last ended his quest for a Derby winner in 2007, that too was front-page news.

And if everyone loves a winner, they often love an imperfect hero and a comeback all the more. A half-year suspension after a failed drug test for cocaine could have been the end of most jockeys in their 40s, plenty of time for owners and trainers to find a younger alternative. For Dettori, though, suspension in December 2012 served as a bridge to a revived partnership with trainer John Gosden in Newmarket, and a new series of winners and Classic winners, including Enable, Golden Horn and Stradivarius.

Ups and Downs

The public highs and lows were an essential part of his narrative, right up until the embarrassing confession this past March that he was filing for bankruptcy after a prolonged dispute with tax authorities regarding unpaid taxes, a situation that Dettori tried, and did not succeed, to keep private.

There were so many twists in his story, in fact, that it's easy to forget that absent Dettori’s immense, once-in-a-generation skill, there would be no story at all.

Natural Ability

It was evident from the start as a teenage apprentice that there was an instinctive rapport between horse and rider whenever Dettori was in the saddle.

Steeds performed for him, and improved for him. In 1990, he was the first teenager since Lester Piggott to achieve 100 wins in one season, and also marked his arrival among the elite with two Group One wins at Ascot, on the same day that he would dominate without a loss just six years later. His iconic flying dismount, adopted from the American legend Angel Cordero Jr, was added to his routine in 1994, and the thrill from riding a big-race winner has always stayed with him. Neither has the talent of sensing, with almost clairvoyance, where to sit, when to strike and where the gaps will emerge.

The Future Ahead

But what next for the recognizable figure of British racing? It will not be easy to step away completely, regardless if Dettori pursues his apparent desire to accept some mounts in South America, which is something I’ve always wanted to experience”. This is not, in fact, an ambition that he had mentioned previously.

But the calamitous decision to accept the tax advice that resulted in his dispute with HMRC indicates that Dettori will not end his career with enough money in the bank to relax and take things easy.

Fresh Ventures

He has already been confirmed in a new role as a “global ambassador” with the football super-agent Kia Joorabchian's growing Amo Racing operation. He explained to Matt Chapman on At The Races on Friday this was the primary reason for his departure now, along with the chance to conclude at the Breeders’ Cup. “Such chances don’t come along, frequently. I like the set-up – this is a young team with huge goals,” said the rider.

Joorabchian, himself, was effusive in his compliments for his new ambassador at Del Mar on Thursday. “He is an icon, he is a true legend in the sport,” Joorabchian said. “When you talk about great sportsmen like LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Lionel Messi and Pelés and similar figures, Frankie is that to horse racing. When visiting Royal Ascot, you notice a statue, you realize that he’s made a big impact on so many lives across the world.

“He’s not here|“He isn't here} to amuse audiences, he's here to work and he will be collaborate with us very closely. He will be involved in all aspects of our business though he won't serve as a racing manager. He is an international ambassador.”

Reality TV are another option, though previous appearances on Celebrity Big Brother and I'm A Celebrity have tended to reveal a moodier side of his personality, beneath the cheerful public persona. On both shows, he was an early exit of the public vote.

It's possible that Dettori himself is unsure what he'll do and how he will fill his time after his riding career ends. And for at least one more day, he remains an elite professional jockey, focused on three rides at one of the most prestigious and dazzling events in the calendar.

One Last Mount

A five-year-old mare called Argine will be his final Grade One mount in the Breeders’ Cup Mile, the same race in which he registered his initial Breeders’ Cup win back in 1994. Her performance in Japan in Japan suggests that she has something to improve to compete, yet few jockeys historically have excelled in big moments like Frankie Dettori.

For one final time, is it time for Frankie?