Frankie Dettori has officially declared his retirement from professional horse racing, marking what seems to be a permanent decision. The renowned jockey had previously hinted at stepping away from the sport in 2023 but later changed his mind, opting to continue his career in the United States following a farewell event at British Champions Day at Ascot.
Dettori relocated to the UK at the age of 14 to join trainer Luca Cumani in Newmarket. He secured his first career win aboard Lizzy Hare, trained by Cumani, at Goodwood in June 1987. His fame skyrocketed globally when he achieved the remarkable feat of riding all seven winners at Ascot in September 1996, known as the ‘Magnificent Seven’ at odds of 25,095½-1.
Throughout his career, Dettori has been a prominent figure, experiencing notable events such as surviving a plane crash in 2000, serving a six-month suspension for testing positive for cocaine in 2012 (during which he appeared on reality TV shows like Celebrity Big Brother and I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here!), and facing financial challenges leading to bankruptcy in March of the previous year.
Following his move to the United States, Dettori has accumulated 129 wins, with 38 victories during a relatively quiet 2025 season. The 54-year-old is set to participate in the upcoming Breeders’ Cup, where he has previously triumphed 15 times. Notably, his final race on American soil will be aboard Argine, a horse trained in Japan, in the Breeders’ Cup Mile.
In a recent announcement, Dettori revealed his decision to retire after the Breeders Cup, expressing his gratitude for the support received throughout his illustrious four-decade-long career. He mentioned his upcoming rides in South America as a long-held aspiration and conveyed heartfelt appreciation to his family, owners, trainers, stable staff, and fans for their unwavering backing.
With his final words, Dettori bid farewell to his fans and supporters, concluding his message with a simple yet poignant “Ciao, Frankie.”
