Frankie Dettori has declared his intention to retire from professional horse racing, marking a definitive end to his illustrious career. The renowned jockey had previously announced plans to step away from the sport in 2023 but had a change of heart, opting to continue riding in the United States following a farewell event at British Champions Day held at Ascot.

Dettori relocated to the UK at the age of 14 to join trainer Luca Cumani in Newmarket. His career took off when he secured his first win aboard Lizzy Hare, trained by Cumani, at Goodwood in June 1987. He gained global recognition after accomplishing the extraordinary feat of riding all seven winners at Ascot in September 1996, famously known as the ‘Magnificent Seven’ at odds of 25,095½-1.

Throughout his career, the three-time champion jockey has been a prominent figure in the sport, overcoming challenges such as surviving a plane crash in 2000 and serving a six-month suspension for a positive cocaine test in 2012. Notably, he participated in reality TV shows like Celebrity Big Brother and I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! He also faced financial difficulties, declaring bankruptcy in March of the previous year.

Since establishing himself in the US, Dettori has notched up 129 victories, including 38 wins in a relatively quiet 2025 season. The 54-year-old is set to compete in seven races over two days at the upcoming Breeders’ Cup, an event where he has achieved success on 15 occasions in the past.

His final race on American soil will be aboard Argine, a horse trained in Japan, in the Breeders’ Cup Mile. After this event, Dettori plans to bring his remarkable career to a close with a few rides in South America, fulfilling a long-held aspiration.

In a statement released recently, Dettori expressed his gratitude and reflected on his racing journey, thanking his family, owners, trainers, stable staff, and fans for their unwavering support. He concluded his message with a heartfelt farewell, signing off with a simple “Ciao, Frankie.”