Frankie Dettori has announced his retirement from horse racing, marking a definitive end to his illustrious career. The renowned jockey had previously considered stepping away from the sport in 2023 but ultimately decided to continue, leading to a change of heart after a special farewell event at British Champions Day at Ascot.
Dettori, who relocated to Britain at the age of 14 to work with fellow countryman Luca Cumani in Newmarket, secured his first major win aboard Lizzy Hare, trained by Cumani, at Goodwood in June 1987. He gained global recognition when he rode all seven winners at Ascot in September 1996, a feat known as the ‘Magnificent Seven’ at odds of 25,095½-1.
Throughout his career, the three-time champion jockey has experienced various highs and lows, including surviving a plane crash in 2000, serving a six-month ban for a positive cocaine test 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 declaring bankruptcy in March of last year.
Having relocated to the United States, Dettori has achieved 129 victories, with 38 wins during a relatively quiet 2025 season. The 54-year-old is scheduled to participate in seven races over two days at the upcoming Breeders’ Cup, where he has previously triumphed 15 times. His final ride on American soil will be aboard Argine, a Japanese-trained horse, in the Breeders’ Cup Mile.
In a recent statement, Dettori revealed his decision to retire from race riding in the US after the Breeders Cup, with plans to conclude his career with a few rides in South America, fulfilling a long-held aspiration. Expressing gratitude for the unwavering support of his family, owners, trainers, stable staff, and fans, Dettori bid farewell with heartfelt thanks to everyone who has been part of his remarkable journey.
In his closing remarks, Dettori simply said, “Ciao, Frankie.”