Frankie Dettori

Frankie Dettori after winning the Breeders' Cup Classic with Raven's Pass

Frankie Dettori

Frankie Dettori in the parade ring at 'Glorious Goodwood' in August 2004

Frankie Dettori in the parade ring at Newmarket after riding in the 2000 Guineas 2005

Lanfranco "Frankie" Dettori, MBE (born 15 December 1970) is an Italian horse racing jockey and celebrity. Dettori has been Champion Jockey on three occasions and has ridden the winners of more than 500 Group races. He has had many successes in his role of stable jockey to Godolphin Racing. Dettori's most celebrated achievement was his riding of all seven winners on Champion's Day at Ascot in 1996. He is the son of the jockey Gianfranco Dettori, who was a prolific winner in Italy. He has been described by Lester Piggott as the best jockey currently riding.

Career

Born in Milan, Dettori's first experience with horses was at the age of twelve and his father bought him a Palomino pony. This had some impact on him, as he rode the horse often. When he was 13 Dettori left school to become a stable boy and apprentice jockey. The following year he went to Great Britain where he apprenticed with trainer Luca Cumani at Newmarket in 1985 and became a stable jockey soon after.

In 1990 Dettori became the first teenager since Lester Piggott to ride 100 winners in one season. His first win came at the age of 16 in Turin in November 1986, while his first victory in Britain was the following June. Further success followed, with numerous winners in Group 1 races. On 28 September 1996 he achieved the feat of winning all seven races on a single day at Ascot Racecourse.

In an interview with the BBC's Newsnight, he admitted that he used to take diuretic drugs to keep his weight down. Dettori said he had used a wide range of substances before the Jockey Club banned them in June 1998 after a spate of positive drug tests revealed how prevalent their use was becoming: "I took Lasix, pee pills, diuretics, laxatives; all sorts."

On 29 December 2000 he received an honorary MBE.

Dettori is the retained jockey for the Godolphin racing stables, and is well known for his distinctive "flying dismounts".

He quit his position as a team captain on the BBC quiz A Question of Sport in 2003, when he was apparently stung by a question from a participant as to when he retired from riding. Since that time he has completely rededicated himself to riding. He was rewarded for his new found dedication by becoming the British Champion Jockey in 2004.

The Epsom Derby was the only British Classic Race Dettori had not won in his career, until his fifteenth attempt on 2 June 2007 on the Peter Chapple-Hyam trained Authorized. The following day he won the Prix du Jockey Club on Lawman, notching up a derby double.

In November 2012, he faced an inquiry following a failed drugs test while riding in France in September.

Personal life

Dettori has stated "I am Template:J and weigh Template:J but I have to sometimes go down to Template:J."

Like many other jockeys and trainers Dettori lives in Stetchworth near to Newmarket, Suffolk with his wife Catherine and their five children: Leo; Ella; Mia; Tallulah; and Rocco.

An ardent Anglophile, he thrives on English culture: Dettori is an avid Arsenal supporter. He has a line of frozen Italian food. In 2004, he opened a restaurant, Frankie's Bar and Grill in Putney, London with renowned chef Marco Pierre White.

In 2000, Dettori and Ray Cochrane were aboard a Piper Seneca plane which crashed on take off at Newmarket on its way to Goodwood in Sussex, killing the pilot. Dettori escaped with a fractured right ankle and an injured thumb, and spent some weeks in Addenbrooke's Hospital.

Thieves stole many of his medals from his home on the evening of 25 August 2006. Items missing include three Gold Cups awarded in Japan, and his MBE.

Major wins

Great Britain

• 1,000 Guineas – (3) – Cape Verdi (1998), Kazzia (2002), Blue Bunting (2011)
• 2,000 Guineas – (2) – Mark of Esteem (1996), Island Sands (1999)
• Ascot Gold Cup – (5) – Drum Taps (1992, 1993), Kayf Tara (1998), Papineau (2004), Colour Vision (2012)
• Cheveley Park Stakes – (2) – Regal Rose (2000), Carry on Katie (2003)
• Coronation Cup – (4) – Swain (1996), Singspiel (1997), Daylami (1999), Mutafaweq (2001)
• Derby – (1) – Authorized (2007)
• Eclipse Stakes – (2) – Daylami (1998), Refuse to Bend (2004)
• Falmouth Stakes – (1) – Nahoodh (2008)
• Fillies' Mile – (6) – Shamshir (1990), Glorosia (1997), Teggiano (1999), Crystal Music (2000), White Moonstone (2010), Lyric of Light (2011)
• Golden Jubilee Stakes – (1) – So Factual (1995)
• Haydock Sprint Cup – (1) – Diktat (1999)
• International Stakes – (5) – Halling (1996), Singspiel (1997), Sakhee (2001), Sulamani (2004), Authorized (2007)
• King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes – (4) – Lammtarra (1995), Swain (1998), Daylami (1999), Doyen (2004)
• King's Stand Stakes - (1) - Lochsong (1994)
• Lockinge Stakes – (3) – Emperor Jones (1994), Aljabr (2000), Creachadoir (2008)
• Middle Park Stakes – (3) – Bahamian Bounty (1996), Lujain (1998), Dutch Art (2006)
• Nassau Stakes – (2) – Lailani (2001), Ouija Board (2006)
• Nunthorpe Stakes – (3) – Lochsong (1993), So Factual (1995), Lochangel (1998)
• Oaks – (3) – Balanchine (1994), Moonshell (1995), Kazzia (2002)
• Prince of Wales's Stakes – (3) – Fantastic Light (2001), Grandera (2002), Rewilding (2011)
• Queen Anne Stakes – (6) – Markofdistinction (1990), Allied Forces (1997), Intikhab (1998), Dubai Destination (2003), Refuse to Bend (2004), Ramonti (2007)
• Queen Elizabeth II Stakes – (5) – Markofdistinction (1990), Mark of Esteem (1996), Dubai Millennium (1999), Ramonti (2007), Poet's Voice (2010)
• Racing Post Trophy – (2) – Authorized (2006), Casamento (2010)
• St. James's Palace Stakes – (1) – Starborough (1997)
• St. Leger – (5) – Classic Cliche (1995), Shantou (1996), Scorpion (2005), Sixties Icon (2006), Conduit (2008)
• Sun Chariot Stakes – (1) – Red Slippers (1992)
• Sussex Stakes – (4) – Second Set (1991), Aljabr (1999), Noverre (2001), Ramonti (2007)
• Yorkshire Oaks – (2) – Only Royale (1994), Blue Bunting (2011)

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France

• Critérium de Saint-Cloud – (1) – Passion for Gold (2009)
• Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud – (1) – Alkaased (2005)
• Poule d'Essai des Poulains – (3) – Vettori (1995), Bachir (2000), Shamardal (2005)
• Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp – (3) – Lochsong (1993, 1994), Var (2004)
• Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe – (3) – Lammtarra (1995), Sakhee (2001), Marienbard (2002)
• Prix du Cadran – (1) – Sergeant Cecil (2006)
• Prix de Diane – (1) – West Wind (2007)
• Prix de la Forêt – (1) – Caradak (2006)
• Prix Ganay – (1) – Pelder (1995)
• Prix d'Ispahan – (2) – Halling (1996), Best of the Bests (2002)
• Prix Jacques Le Marois – (3) – Dubai Millennium (1999), Muhtathir (2000), Librettist (2006)
• Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère – (2) – Rio de la Plata (2007), Dabirsim (2011)
• Prix Jean Prat – (3) – Torrential (1995), Starborough (1997), Almutawakel (1998)
• Prix du Jockey Club – (3) – Polytain (1992), Shamardal (2005), Lawman (2007)
• Prix Lupin – (1) – Flemensfirth (1995)
• Prix Marcel Boussac – (2) – Ryafan (1996), Sulk (2001)
• Prix Maurice de Gheest – (1) – Diktat (1999)
• Prix Morny – (2) – Bahamian Bounty (1996), Dabirsim (2011)
• Prix du Moulin de Longchamp – (2) – Slickly (2001), Librettist (2006)
• Prix de l'Opéra – (1) – Nahrain (2011)
• Prix de la Salamandre – (2) – Lord of Men (1995), Aljabr (1998)
• Prix Vermeille – (1) – Mezzo Soprano (2003)

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Germany

• Bayerisches Zuchtrennen – (2) – Germany (1995), Kutub (2001)
• Deutsches Derby – (1) – Temporal (1991)
• Deutschland-Preis – (3) – Luso (1997), Marienbard (2002), Campanologist (2010)
• Grosser Preis von Baden – (3) – Germany (1995), Marienbard (2002), Mamool (2003)
• Mehl-Mülhens-Rennen – (1) – Frozen Power (2010)
• Preis von Europa – (3) – Kutub (2001), Mamool (2003), Campanologist (2011)

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Hong Kong

• Centenary Sprint Cup – (1) – Firebolt (2002)
• Hong Kong Cup – (3) – Fantastic Light (2000), Falbrav (2003), Ramonti (2007)
• Hong Kong Mile – (1) – Firebreak (2004)
• Hong Kong Vase – (2) – Luso (1996), Mastery (2010)
• Queen Elizabeth II Cup – (1) – Overbury (1996)

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Ireland

• Irish 2,000 Guineas – (2) – Bachir (2000), Dubawi (2005)
• Irish Champion Stakes – (5) – Swain (1998), Daylami (1999), Fantastic Light (2001), Grandera (2002), Snow Fairy (2012)
• Irish Derby – (1) – Balanchine (1994)
• Irish Oaks – (3) – Lailani (2001), Vintage Tipple (2003), Blue Bunting (2011)
• Irish St. Leger – (1) – Kayf Tara (1999)
• Matron Stakes – (1) – Independence (2001)
• National Stakes – (1) – Dubawi (2004)
• Phoenix Stakes – (1) – Pips Pride (1992)
• Pretty Polly Stakes – (1) – Del Deya (1994)
• Tattersalls Gold Cup – (2) – Daylami (1998), Fantastic Light (2001)

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Italy

• Derby Italiano – (2) – Mukhalif (1999), Mastery (2009)
• Gran Criterium – (1) – Kirklees (2006)
• Gran Premio del Jockey Club – (6) – Misil (1993), Shantou (1996), Kutub (2001), Cherry Mix (2005), Schiaparelli (2009), Campanologist (2011)
• Gran Premio d'Italia – (1) – Masad (1992)
• Gran Premio di Milano – (2) – Shantou (1997), Sudan (2007)
• Oaks d'Italia – (1) – Nicole Pharly (1997)
• Premio Roma – (5) – Legal Case (1990), Misil (1992), Flemensfirth (1996), Sunstrach (2002), Rio De La Plata (2010)
• Premio Vittorio di Capua – (5) – Muhtathir (1999), Slickly (2001, 2002), Ancient World (2004), Rio De La Plata (2010)

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Canada

• Canadian International Stakes – (3) – Mutafaweq (2000), Sulamani (2004), Joshua Tree (2012)
• E. P. Taylor Stakes – (2) – Timarida (1995), Folk Opera (2008)

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United Arab Emirates

• Al Maktoum Round Challenge III - (5) - Dubai Millennium (2000), Street Cry (2002), Grandera (2003), Electrocutionist (2006), Jalil (2008)
• Dubai Duty Free Stakes – (1) – Tamayaz (1997)
• Dubai Golden Shaheen – (1) – Kelly's Landing (2007)
• Dubai Sheema Classic – (3) – Stowaway (1998), Sulamani (2003), Rewilding (2011)
• Dubai World Cup – (3) – Dubai Millennium (2000), Moon Ballad (2003), Electrocutionist (2006)
• Godolphin Mile - (7) - Allied Forces (1998), Lend A Hand (1999), Firebreak (2003,2004), Two Step Salsa (2009), Skysurfers (2011), African Story (2012)
• Jebel Hatta - (2) - Siege (2000), Mahfooth (2001)
• UAE Derby - (2) - Essence Of Dubai (2002), Discreet Cat (2006)

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Turkey

• Anatolia Trophy - (2) - Balius (2009), Hunter's light (2012)

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United States

• Beverly D. Stakes – (1) – Crimson Palace (2004)
• Breeders' Cup Classic – (1) – Raven's Pass (2008)
• Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf – (1) – Ouija Board (2006)
• Breeders' Cup Juvenile – (1) – Wilko (2004)
• Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf – (2) – Donativum (2008), Pounced (2009)
• Breeders' Cup Mile – (1) – Barathea (1994)
• Breeders' Cup Turf – (4) – Daylami (1999), Fantastic Light (2001), Red Rocks (2006), Dangerous Midge (2010)

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Japan

• Japan Cup – (3) – Singspiel (1996), Falbrav (2002), Alkaased (2005)
• Japan Cup Dirt – (1) – Eagle Cafe (2002)

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Singapore

• Singapore Gold Cup – (1) – Kutub (2002)
• Singapore Airlines International Cup – (1) – Grandera (2002)
• Singapore Plate - (1) - Timahs (2000)

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Year-end charts in the United States

Chart (2000–present)	Peak position
National Earnings List for Jockeys 2000	20
National Earnings List for Jockeys 2001	41
National Earnings List for Jockeys 2002	32
National Earnings List for Jockeys 2003	33
National Earnings List for Jockeys 2004	69
National Earnings List for Jockeys 2006	19
National Earnings List for Jockeys 2008	64

See also

• List of jockeys
• Racingbase.com - Racing People: Frankie Dettori

External links

• Official Frankie Dettori Website
• Jockey's Room – has biography and career win statistics
• [1] – Video replays, official charts, and article recaps of every Breeders' Cup race.
• Frankies italian Bar and Grill – Frankie's Restaurants and Bars
• [2] – BBC Question Of Sport Website
• Sunday Times article 19 July, 2009
• [3] Arsenal.com - Famous Fans: Champion jockey Frankie Dettori