Frankie goes to Hollywood: Dettori will unretire in California
Jockey Frankie Dettori, who was on a farewell tour this year of the sport that made him a star, used social media early Thursday to call off his retirement and say he would move his home base to Southern California.
“A scoop for you guys,” he said on X, formerly Twitter, in a post from London. “I have decided to prolong my career. I am going to go to the United States from next year, and keep on following me.”
Dettori, 52, who was in England to promote his last rides on next week’s British Champion Stakes card at Ascot, told Racing Post writer Lee Mottershead, “It could be three months. It could be three years. I don’t know. It depends on how it goes.”
Not ruling out the occasional return to Europe for Royal Ascot or other big races, Dettori told Racing Post, “The obvious choice for me is to move full time to America, because I had such a good time there over the winter. I’m going to be based at Santa Anita, but I’ll also do a bit of stuff on the international scene in Dubai and Saudi Arabia when available.”
Dettori, who had not responded to a text message early Thursday from Horse Racing Nation, did not offer further details on his plans in America other than to say he would be riding “freelance” as he did early this year, when his book was handled by agent Ron Anderson.
A native of Italy who was an apprentice rider in California 35 years ago, Dettori is a three-time U.K. champion who has nearly 300 Group and Grade 1 victories to his name. His biggest day was in 1996, when he won seven races on the British Festival of Racing card at Ascot in an accomplishment that became known as his Magnificent Seven.
Dettori will ride at the Breeders’ Cup before going to Australia for an expected mount in the Melbourne Cup (G1). He presumably will take time off before beginning his winter season in December at Santa Anita.
With six Group 1 victories this year including last weekend with Inspiral in the Sun Chariot, Dettori told Racing Post, “I didn’t expect this year to be so successful.”