Frankie Dettori, an Italian jockey in England, has had an extraordinary career. He achieved three British flat racing Champion Jockey titles and won 286 Group 1 races, including 23 British Classic Races. His most memorable moment came on 28 September 1996 at Ascot Racecourse, where he rode all seven winners on British Festival of Racing Day.
In a December 2022 interview with ITV, the equestrian announced his retirement. During the summer of 2023, he added to his accomplishments by winning the 2000 Guineas on Chaldean. He achieved a double victory at Epsom on Emily Upjohn and Soul Sister. The horse-riding legend even received a $1,400,000 surprise for his last race. Recently, he faced a nine-day ban for endangering King Charles’ horse’s life.
Dettori’s equestrian career faced setbacks with suspensions
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Frankie Dettori faced a setback in his final season as a jockey. After the Wolferton Stakes at Royal Ascot, he received a nine-day ban for careless riding. As a result, the 52-year-old jockey couldn’t compete in the Coral-Eclipse Stakes at Sandown, where Emily Upjohn was a 9-4 favorite. The suspension lasted from July 4th to July 12th, coinciding with the Sandown classic but ending before the three-day Newmarket festival reports Express UK.
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However, The 2001 Honorary MBE would be eligible for the July Cup, the only Group One race he’s yet to win. During the Listed race, Dettori’s maneuver caused significant disruptions for James McDonald on Cadillac and Ben Curtis on Certain Lad. This added to Dettori’s disappointment at the Royal festival, where he finished second three times and had another mount withdrawn. In the opening race, he narrowly lost to Triple Time. Dettori’s ban in 2023 is not his first encounter with suspension.
Dettori’s career has seen controversial suspensions
In the 2019 Melbourne Cup, Dettori faced a suspension for careless riding. Riding Master Of Reality for owners Lloyd and Nick Williams and trainer Joseph O’Brien, he narrowly lost to Vow And And Declare. Fox Sports reported that Master of Reality appeared to be the winner at one point. However, a stewards’ protest led to Dettori’s mount being demoted to fourth place. Dettori expressed his disappointment, saying, “I feel like crying.”
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He was later found guilty of a low-range careless riding charge and received a nine-meeting suspension. The incident occurred when Dettori’s maneuver caused James McDonald in Cadillac to pull back. It affected Certain Lad and Notre Belle Bete. In another incident, CNN reported that in 2012, Dettori received a temporary ban from riding in France due to a positive drug test for a banned substance after a race at Longchamps Racecourse on September 16, 2012.
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