By Emma Berry
Frankie Dettori left the Del Mar backstretch on Wednesday morning after riding his Breeders' Cup Mile mount Argine and refused all interviews as he departed the stable area. “There will be plenty of news tomorrow,” he said.
But tomorrow appears to have come a day early as by lunchtime the legendary jockey had posted a statement on social media to announce his retirement from American racing after the Breeders' Cup meeting. He will also be in action across the two days aboard Wimbledon Hawkeye and Aspect Island for James Owen and the Gredley Family. Following Saturday's Californian farewell, Dettori will however take a “few rides” in South America.
His statement read, “Following the Breeders' Cup on Saturday, I will be retiring from race riding in the United States and concluding my career with a few rides in South America, something I've always wanted to do.
“It has been an honour to compete at the highest level of this sport for over four decades. I'm deeply grateful to my family, the owners, trainers, stable staff, and of course the supporters who have made my career possible.
“From the bottom of my heart, thank you to everyone who has supported me throughout this incredible journey. Ciao, Frankie.”
The Italian-born Dettori, 54, enjoyed his best days in the saddle through a long and successful career based in Britain. He left home to work for his compatriot Luca Cumani in Newmarket at the age of 14 and rode his first winner, Lizzy Hare, at Goodwood on June 9, 1987. Through a longstanding retainer with Sheikh Mohammed's Godolphin operation, he went on to become recognised as one of the best jockeys in the world, with his long list of major victories including 44 European Classics, six Arcs and 15 Breeders' Cup wins.
Dettori initially announced his intention to retire in December 2022 and rode for the final time in the UK on British Champions Day in October 2023. In the week leading up to his swansong he revealed a change of heart and stated his plan to continue riding in California, where he has largely been based for the past two years.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
