Frankie Dettori has made the decision to retire from horse racing, marking what seems to be a permanent exit this time. The renowned jockey had initially planned to step away from the sport in 2023 but had a change of heart, opting to continue his career in the United States after a 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. He achieved his first career win aboard Lizzy Hare, a horse trained by Cumani, at Goodwood in June 1987. Dettori gained global recognition when he rode all seven winners at Ascot in September 1996, an incredible feat known as the ‘Magnificent Seven’ at odds of 25,095½-1.
Throughout his career, Dettori has faced various challenges, including surviving a plane crash in 2000, serving a six-month suspension for a positive cocaine test in 2012 (during which he appeared on reality TV shows), and filing for bankruptcy in March of the previous year.
Having shifted his focus to the US, Dettori has amassed 129 victories, with 38 wins in a relatively quiet 2025 season. The 54-year-old is set to participate in the upcoming Breeders’ Cup, where he has achieved 15 wins in the past. 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 from race riding in the US following the Breeders Cup. He expressed gratitude to his family, supporters, trainers, stable staff, and everyone who contributed to his successful career spanning over four decades. Dettori concluded his statement with a heartfelt farewell, thanking all those who supported him throughout his remarkable journey.
With this decision, Dettori will be wrapping up his illustrious career with a few rides in South America, fulfilling a longstanding aspiration.