Dettori to call it a day after Breeders’ Cup
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Champion jockey Frankie Dettori calls it a day.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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DEL MAR - Frankie Dettori has announced that he will hang up his boots in the US after competing at the Breeders’ Cup in Del Mar this weekend.
In a statement on social media, Dettori said: “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.”
The flamboyant 54-year-old Italian originally retired from the saddle at the end of 2023, but he decided to continue riding on the track in America.
The three-time British champion jockey rode all seven winners on the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes card at Ascot in 1996, later known as the “Magnificent Seven”, while he added the Epsom Derby to his illustrious CV in 2007 on Authorized before doubling up on Golden Horn in 2015.
Dettori teams up with Newmarket trainer James Owen to ride Aspect Island in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (1,000m) on Oct 31 and Wimbledon Hawkeye in the Breeders’ Cup Turf (2,400m) on Nov 1.
He will also be in action aboard the Japanese-trained Argine in the Breeders’ Cup Mile (1,600m) and Charlie Hills’ Khaadem in the Turf Sprint (1,000m), both on Nov 1.
He concluded: “From the bottom of my heart, thank you to everyone who has supported me throughout this incredible journey.”
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