Bookies gutted as Frankie Dettori makes retirement U-turn after 10ft card
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Bookies are quaking after super jockey Frankie Dettori U-turned on his retirement and vowed to carry on racing.
Ten months after announcing he planned to hang up his riding boots the track legend said he will continue racing next year.
Frankie, 52, revealed his plans in a video posted on X – formerly Twitter – in which he told fans: “I have decided to prolong my career. I’m going to go to the United States next year. Keep on following me.”
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The news stunned bookmakers who last month presented him with a 10ft tall happy retirement card at what they thought would be his final ride in the St Leger in Doncaster.
Though they wished him well they were relieved to see the back of the jockey who has cost them £400million by winning 23 of the sport’s elite races.
But Frankie – famous for his trademark flying dismounts – hopes to carry on raking in the cash for his fans by riding more classic winners abroad. He plans to move to California, US, before Christmas and will also race in Dubai and Saudi Arabia.
“I’ve still got the fire inside me that I want to do it a little bit more," he said.
The jockey – who has ridden more than 3,300 winners in a glittering 35-year career – said he still plans to say his “last goodbyes” to UK racing on Champions Day at Ascot on October 21.
The Berkshire racecourse is the scene of his most historic triumph when he went through the card riding all seven winners on the same day. But Frankie is far from finished with the sport of kings.
“It’s all about being a freelance in the States but I hope to be riding for everyone,’’ he said. “It could be three months. It could be three years. I don’t know. It depends how it goes."
On Thursday, bookies were trying to claw back some cash by offering odds on Frankie performing another u-turn – and returning to ride in Britain.
William Hill made him just 2-1 to ride a winner at next year’s Royal Ascot.
- Horse racing
- Royal Ascot
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