This retirement game isn’t all about waving to adoring fans, signing autographs and saying an emotional goodbye. There are some tough decisions involved.
Frankie Dettori has to figure out what to do with all the stuff he’s collected over his 35-year driving career, especially as plans to downsize his six-bedroom family home near Newmarket to a London flat could happen as early as September .
The life of Frankie and his wife Catherine currently includes many boxes plus what to do with approximately 2,000 trophies collected by one of the most successful jockeys of all time, including some given to him by his jockey father Gianfranco.
Dettori decided not to make a guest appearance on Cash In The Attic, but his plan to reduce his collection to a number that fits the kind of closet that graces millions of living rooms across the country has led to some sober decisions with around 200 items of Dettori memorabilia including trophies, saddles and boots have already been auctioned.
What remains are Dettori’s truly treasured items – his MBE, the medal for his appointment as a Commedatore in Italy, Ascot and Breeders’ Cup memorabilia, St Leger winning jockey caps and the trophy for winning the 2015 Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe on John Gosden-trained Golden Horn.
Frankie Dettori must figure out what to do with his trophies after deciding to retire
Dettori discussed his plans to move into a flat in London, which could happen in September
There is also the small cup and rosette for the first race won by the greatest jockey of his generation – a Donkey Derby.
The closet is currently in a red-walled man cave, a personal space for Frankie and his friends known as Frankie’s Sulky Room.
Dettori, 52, whose last day of riding in Britain will be on Ascot’s Champions Day on October 21, said: ‘It was a tough culling. That’s one of the biggest jobs. When my father retired 30 years ago, he gave me all his trophies.
“I have about 1,500 trophies and then I have his 500 trophies. Now I’m sending them all back to him! He says he doesn’t want them, but he has a huge house so he can hang them somewhere.
‘I keep a closet full, but you won’t believe how much there is. Catherine wanted to pack everything up, but I said, at least let’s keep something out. I know we don’t know where we’re going to end up, but as long as it’s this amount, it’s easy to transport.
“I have never been a material person. I don’t monkey about things, for me it’s the memories that matter. People get more excited than I do to watch it. It doesn’t break my heart.
At least that way people can enjoy it. I’ve given some away to the boys, some I’ve given to charity and the pony club and I’ll try and find something decent for the Horseracing Museum if they want. I’m sure they will.’
Dettori’s imminent move to the capital will come as a surprise to many. Since he arrived from Italy at the age of 15, Newmarket has been his home, living cheek to cheek with racehorses.
After he retires, Dettori says things will be different as he will only be riding for fun
Dettori wants to spend time traveling with his wife Catherine after he retires
But in reality, it’s been his dream for a while.
“It has always been my dream to live in London and my wife always held me back,” says the three-time champion jockey. ‘I’ve always wanted to live in a flat in London with a gym and underground parking and it’s wildlife and land. After 30 years, I think I’ve convinced her.
‘I’ve spent my whole life outdoors and in the countryside. I would like to do something different. I like people and the city – I lived in Milan.
“You can pull down your baseball cap and walk around the Thames or South London, and get a little lost and not be recognized by anyone… maybe it should be a balaclava!”
The move and sentiment suggest that when Dettori dismounts from his last racehorse – after his last UK ride he has plans to ride the Breeders’ Cup in the US, in Australia and Hong Kong – that his separation from racing may be more dramatic than we thought. A pure pause to stop the pain of regret tugging at his heart.
That’s not how Dettori plans it, but he’s looking forward to life after Weighing Room. There are places in the world he and Catherine want to visit, as well as daughter Ella’s wedding next year to plan.
Dettori said: ‘I’m looking forward to it because we’re quite flexible and we like to travel. The kids are settled, so we have peace of mind. We no longer have an obligation to be parents, we can be ourselves.
“I’m going to stop driving for a while. I haven’t planned much. There comes a dusty period when I have to come down a bit to catch my breath. At the moment no one has offered me anything so it will be step by step.
‘I’m going to spend more time in Italy. Dad is 82. I have to keep an eye on him and mom. I want to be pretty flexible.
“I’ll come back in the spring and start thinking about where I want to be. I’m not going to say I’ll never ride again – I probably will. But it will be different and when I want. It will be more for relaxation.
‘As a jockey you have to do it. It’s different from picking up the phone and saying “Hi John, can I drive to work tomorrow, it’s a beautiful sunny day.”
Dettori has so far kept his emotions in check during his last lap in the racing world, even at his beloved Royal Ascot, where his latest effort at his favorite meeting saw four victories, including the Gold Cup at Courage Mon Amour.
Next week will be another major milestone, his last Glorious Goodwood, officially now the Qatar Goodwood Festival, and possibly the last time he will ever race the circuit where the then 16-year-old Dettori drove his first ever British winner on Lizzie Hare in the Birdless Grove Handicap on June 9, 1987.
After an excellent career, Dettori will take time to relax, but he’s not quite done yet
Dettori is eager to secure even more fame at Goodwood, where he has had previous success
Fittingly, the two jockeys he beat three-time champion Steve Cauthen and eleven-time champion Pat Eddery were also regarded as two of the greatest jockeys to ever stand on the podium. Looking back at the result, the fact that Dettori beat two riding icons makes the event extra special.
Dettori remembers more about what happened before and after the race, especially when the filly Lizzie Hare was named after his then boss Luca Cumani’s Newmarket stable secretary.
Dettori, who has more than 200 career wins at Goodwood, recalled, “Lizzie had driven me to Goodwood. I won and I beat her ear for four hours on the way back to tell her how good I was and what I had done.
“The following week I kept telling her how well I had ridden her filly. She still texts me from time to time! I don’t remember much about the race apart from a hole in the inside and beating Steve and Pat.”
Dettori may be synonymous with Ascot, but his record Glorious Goodwood is pretty good. His 75 wins are 18 points off Ryan Moore, the second more successful Goodwood jockey currently riding, and he has chances to add to that tally this week, including Courage Mon Amour, who is bidding to give him a sixth on Tuesday Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup victory. and Inspiral in Wednesday’s Sussex Stakes.
Dettori said: ‘After Epsom, Goodwood is the hardest track to drive because of all the undulations, but I’ve been very successful there. In recent years I have been staying near the track instead of coming home every night.
‘I’m staying at Champneys Forest Mere health farm. I mingle with all the people in their bathrobes with me in my tracksuit flat on the treadmill. They look at me and think, “Who is this nut in a hat and gloves?”
Dettori’s time on the racing treadmill is almost over, but there’s still time for a few more wins. Cheers will ring around the Sussex Downs as he can leave the podium where it all started for him in Britain 35 years ago with a few more victories.
* Frankie Dettori is an ambassador for global insurance brokerage and Ascot Racecourse partner, Howden – visit howdengroup.com