Frankie Dettori has made the decision to retire from professional horse racing, marking a definitive end to his illustrious career. The renowned jockey had previously intended to step away from the sport in 2023 but had a change of heart, opting to continue riding after a special farewell event at British Champions Day at Ascot.
Dettori relocated to the UK at the age of 14 to work with fellow countryman Luca Cumani in Newmarket. His racing journey began in June 1987 when he secured his first win riding Lizzy Hare, a horse trained by Cumani. However, it was his remarkable achievement of riding all seven winners at Ascot in September 1996, known as the ‘Magnificent Seven’ at odds of 25,095½-1, that catapulted him to global fame.
Throughout his career, Dettori has been a prominent figure in the racing world, facing significant challenges and triumphs. He survived a plane crash in 2000, served a six-month suspension in 2012 for a positive drug test, entered the Celebrity Big Brother house during his ban, participated in I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! in 2023, and declared bankruptcy in March of the same year.
Since establishing himself in the United States, Dettori has accumulated 129 wins, with 38 victories during a somewhat subdued 2025 season. The 54-year-old is set to compete in seven races across two days at the Breeders’ Cup, an event where he has previously achieved 15 wins. His final race on American soil will be aboard Argine, a horse from Japan, in the Breeders’ Cup Mile.
In a recent announcement, Dettori revealed his plans to retire after the Breeders’ Cup, with a few final rides in South America, fulfilling a long-held desire. He expressed gratitude to his family, owners, trainers, stable staff, and fans for their unwavering support throughout his remarkable four-decade-long career.
As he bids farewell to the racing world, Dettori concluded his statement with a heartfelt message: “Ciao, Frankie.”
