Veteran jockey Frankie Dettori was involved in a car accident in Newmarket on Wednesday evening, sustaining several broken ribs and a broken thumb. The incident occurred just hours after he announced his intention to return to racing at Doncaster.
Dettori is currently receiving medical attention in hospital, where he remains under observation for further scans. His injuries are still being assessed by medical professionals.
Details of the Accident
The accident took place when another vehicle struck the rear passenger side of the car Dettori was driving. This impact caused his vehicle to spin and subsequently flip over. Emergency services were dispatched to the scene following the crash.
H Talent Management, Dettori‘s management, released a statement confirming the details of the incident. They stated that Dettori was transported to the hospital where the extent of his injuries, including the broken ribs and thumb, was identified. The management also expressed Dettori‘s gratitude to the emergency services and the medical team caring for him.
The statement from H Talent Management also requested privacy for Dettori during his recovery period. They indicated that no further comments would be made until there was a significant update regarding his condition.
Anticipated Return to Racing
The car crash occurred shortly after Dettori, a six-time St Leger winner, had announced his plans to come out of retirement for a special race. He was scheduled to participate in the Leger Legends race at Doncaster in September, as part of the St Leger Festival.
This charity race, known as the Betfred Leger Legends, is the only one of its kind in the UK. It sees former professional jockeys return to the saddle to raise funds for the Injured Jockeys Fund. The event was planned for Betfred Gents Day on September 11, forming part of the four-day meeting.
Dettori had not competed in Britain since October 2023, when he secured a victory in the Champion Stakes at Ascot while riding King Of Steel. His planned return to Doncaster had generated considerable interest among racing enthusiasts.
A Distinguished Career
Frankie Dettori, who is 55 years old, boasts a career spanning over 35 years in horse racing. He achieved the title of British flat racing Champion Jockey on three occasions. Throughout his illustrious career, he rode 287 winners, which included 23 victories in the prestigious British Classic Races.
One of his most notable accomplishments was riding all seven winners on British Festival of Racing Day at Ascot Racecourse on September 28, 1996. Born in Milan, Dettori moved to Newmarket at the age of fourteen to begin his journey in racing, initially as a stable lad and later as a jockey under Luca Cumani. He earned the title of British champion apprentice jockey in 1989.
In 1994, he was appointed stable jockey for Sheikh Mohammed‘s newly established Godolphin Racing. Over the subsequent eighteen years, he achieved many of his significant worldwide race victories while riding in Godolphin‘s distinctive royal-blue colours.
Dettori had previously announced in December 2022 that 2023 would mark his final year of professional riding, making his planned return to the Leger Legends race a highly anticipated event for September.
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Source: skysports.com
