Frankie Dettori has announced that he will retire from the saddle at the end of 2023.
The 52-year-old Italian has had a stellar career but on a white day of racing in Britain and Ireland he confirmed to ITV Racing that next year will be his last.
He said: “Next year, 2023, will be my last professional year as a jockey.
“I’m going to break the news now. It’s something I’ve been thinking about for a while and what a fitting day to tell the racing world that this will be my final next year.
Dettori’s place in the pantheon of the sport’s greatest jockeys has long been assured, with his accomplishments far too numerous to mention.
He has been linked to many great equines, including the double heroine of the Arc Enable, the powerful stayer Stradivarius and two Derby winners in Authorized and Golden Horn.
What will Dettori do when he retires from riding? Lots of clues in this Off Track special, recorded a few weeks ago
Dettori said he would officially retire at next year’s Breeders’ Cup meeting in Santa Anita in November.
He added: “The plan is that I ride Boxing Day in Santa Anita and plan to spend 10 weeks in California.
“I should return via Dubai and Saudi Arabia and I guess I will start my (UK) season at Newmarket.
“I will ride all the way, obviously it will be my last Guineas, my last Derby, my last Royal Ascot etc. and then I will probably finish (in Britain) either at Champions Day at Ascot or at Newmarket .
“The last farewell as a professional rider will be in California at the Breeders’ Cup.”
Dettori insists the decision to call it a day was not one he took lightly.
“It’s a very tough decision because my heart wants to keep rolling but I had to use my brain and I just turned 52 and next year I’ll be 53,” he said. for follow-up.
“I want to be competitive enough to do justice to my owners and my horses next year and I think I’m still in that range of being good. It was tough, but it’s the right time.
“I spoke to my father for a long time. My dad stopped at 51, he is very supportive and I also had to talk to my wife and my children who are delighted because they have hardly seen me for 35 years!
“I’ve been thinking about it for a few weeks and decided that with the firepower I have next year and the horses I have to ride, I can end my career on a high note. Fingers crossed I stay in one piece and we’ll give it a try next year.
“Look at Ronaldo, one day he was playing and he’s on the bench the next day. I don’t want to end up like that and end up where I struggle to get rolled in the big races. At the moment I still have good horses to ride and I want to end up like this.