Dettori reveals his favourite track and his most satisfying moment

10/20/2023 Horse Racing

‘I would have loved to be a footballer but I was mediocre and small, so I got into racing with my jockey dad’: In a Q&A, Frankie Dettori reveals his favourite track, best career moment… and which film makes him cry

  • Frankie Dettori bows out of British racing with five rides at Ascot on Saturday
  • His most satisfying moment was Golden Horn winning the Derby in 2015 
  • Mail Sport’s new WhatsApp Channel: Get the breaking news and exclusives here 

Frankie Dettori bows out of British racing with five rides on Champions Day at Ascot before heading to the United States.

The legendary jockey, 52, has claimed more than 3,300 career wins over a remarkable 35-year career.

Dettori makes his final appearance in front of a British crowd on King of Steel in the Champion Stakes.

Beforehand, Dettori has four other opportunities to sign off in style as he rides Trawlerman in the Long Distance Cup (1.15pm), Kinross in the Champions Sprint (1.50pm), Free Wind in the Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes (2.25pm) and Chaldean in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes (3.05pm).

Here, Dettori takes part in a quickfire Q&A with Mail Sport’s Racing Editor Marcus Townend.

Jockey Frankie Dettori (above) bows out of British racing on Saturday with five rides at Ascot

HOW DID YOU GET INTO RACING?

It was going racing as a kid with my jockey father Gianfranco in Italy. I would play football in the racecourse car parks with other kids, some of whom also became jockeys. They were also watching their parents ride in races.

WHO HAS BEEN THE BIGGEST INFLUENCE ON YOUR CAREER?

Again, I have to say dad because if it wasn’t for him I wouldn’t be here. He started me off.

WHAT WOULD YOU BE DOING IF YOU WERE NOT A JOCKEY?

I would have loved to be a footballer but I was mediocre and small so I would still have to have done something, somewhere with horses.

FAVOURITE RACECOURSE?

Easy answer, Ascot.

DO YOU SUPPORT A TEAM AND WHO IS YOUR FAVOURITE PLAYER?

I support Arsenal and Juventus. At the moment my favourite player is Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli because he is in peak form and he makes a difference.

WHAT MOMENT OR EVENT HAS GIVEN YOU MOST SATISFACTION IN YOUR CAREER?

The most satisfying moment was Golden Horn winning the 2015 Derby but my biggest achievement was going through the card and winning all seven races at Ascot in 1996.

Dettori’s most satisfying moment was Golden Horn winning the Derby at Epsom in 2015

WHAT’S THE MOST MEMORABLE MATCH, CONCERT OR EVENT YOU HAVE ATTENDED?

I went to see Italy versus Spain in the Euros semi-final at Wembley. We won and went on to beat England in the final but I didn’t go to that because I was superstitious and I didn’t want to jinx them!

DO YOU HAVE PETS?

We are now down to my German Shepherd, who is spoiled rotten, but we used to have cats, chickens, donkeys, emus, guinea fowl and horses and lots of little animals like giant snails, tortoises, guineas pigs and rabbits. We had the lot.

WHAT WOULD BE YOUR DESERT ISLAND DISC?

Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen. That’s a great song.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE FILM?

The very soppy film that I watch with the children is Gladiator. It is very cheesy but it always makes me cry.

TEA OR COFFEE?

Coffee, by the gallon! I will probably start with a cappuccino, then single espressos and, if I feel like it, a macchiato with a splash of milk.

WHITE OR RED WINE? 

Generally I drink white – it is better for my weight but I like red in the winter.

FAVOURITE TAKEAWAY MEAL?

I don’t really do takeaways, but I love Japanese food and would buy some sushi.

Dettori got into racing as a kid after watching his jockey father Gianfranco in Italy

DO YOU WATCH SOAP OPERAS?

Not now, but I used to 30 years ago. That’s how I learnt to speak English when I first arrived in England. I lodged with a guy and we used to race our bikes home to get back quickly because our landlady used to leave free biscuits next to the teapot. Whoever got home first got to eat them!

We had a telly in our room and there were only four TV channels. Most of the time we watched snooker, otherwise we watched the soaps. It was when EastEnders had 20million viewers around the time of Dirty Den. Watching it was how I slowly got a grasp of the English language.

LAST BOOK YOU READ?

I haven’t read one for ages but the last one was about the jockey Fred Archer about 10 years ago.

WHERE IN THE WORLD WOULD YOU LIKE TO VISIT?

South America. I have been to Brazil and Argentina but I would like to do Argentina again as well as Chile, Uruguay and the Inca Trail in Peru. I will when I have more time

CAN YOU COOK OR DO YOU STRUGGLE TO BOIL A KETTLE?

If I put my mind to it I can cook. I’ll be honest, if I don’t cook I don’t get fed!

WHO LIVING OR DEAD WOULD YOU LIKE TO TALK TO FOR AN HOUR?

This will make you laugh but I wouldn’t mind chatting to Silvio Berlusconi? I never met him. He was very controversial but an amazing man.

The jockey’s named his biggest achievement as going through the card and winning all seven races at Ascot in 1996 (pictured, with Mark of Esteem)

DIY EXPERT OR CALL IN A TRADESMAN?

My dad is very good at DIY but I am completely the opposite. I probably could do it but I am too lazy.

OUT OF YOUR COLLEAGUES WHO IS THE FUNNIEST? 

We miss Martin Dwyer since his injury and retirement but he was the funniest. There are a lot of young jockeys these days and they all take it very seriously but I am sure in the next few years some will come out of their shells.


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