Frankie Dettori to Retire, Plans South American Farewell Tour

The Italian jockey made the announcement earlier today; Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay are reportedly among the destinations being considered for the legendary rider’s farewell tour

Frankie Dettori, This Time Truly Brings His Riding Career to an End / BENOIT PHOTO

By Diego H. Mitagstein, special correspondent for Turf Diario in Del Mar, California

DEL MAR, California—Wednesday dawned with the usual rhythm on the Del Mar backstretch, yet there was something different in the air. Frankie Dettori had worked Argine, his mount for the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1), early in the morning, leaving the track quietly and without comment. “There will be news tomorrow,” he said in passing. Tomorrow came sooner than expected.

By midday, the most charismatic jockey of modern times made official what many had suspected: after the Breeders’ Cup, he will retire from American racing—and from the saddle altogether. Before hanging up his boots for good, however, he plans to fulfill one long-held wish: to ride a few times in South America.

“After the Breeders’ Cup I will retire from racing in the United States and conclude my career with a few rides in South America, something I’ve always wanted to do,” Dettori wrote in his announcement. “It has been an honor to compete at the highest level for more than four decades. I am deeply grateful to my family, to the owners, trainers, grooms, and, of course, to the fans who made my career possible. From the bottom of my heart, thank you all. Ciao, Frankie.”

At 54, the Milan-born Italian leaves behind a legacy impossible to replicate. At just 14, he left home to work for Luca Cumani in Newmarket, and three years later celebrated his first victory aboard Lizzy Hare at Goodwood. Nothing would ever be the same again.

His partnership with Godolphin carried him to the pinnacle of world racing: 44 European Classics, six Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (G1) victories, 15 Breeders’ Cup wins, and an endless list of triumphs that made him a global celebrity far beyond the racetrack.

Dettori had first announced his retirement in December 2022, officially bowing out at Champions Day 2023 at Ascotamid a historic ovation. But passion once again proved stronger than farewell speeches. He reconsidered and crossed the Atlantic to settle in California, where for the past two seasons he has rediscovered the simple joy of doing what he loves most: winning.

This week, he will ride out the final chapter of his American career, with mounts not only on Argine, but also Wimbledon Hawkeye and Aspect Island, for James Owen and the Gredley family.

And so, the jockey who redefined how to celebrate a victory—and whose charm became his global signature—prepares to say goodbye in his own inimitable way: with emotion, elegance, and that trademark “ciao” that carries a lifetime of history. At Del Mar, the sport readies itself to bid farewell to its last great showman.