After Major Upset at SPOTY 2023, Frankie Dettori Apologizes to Fans for ‘Mistake’

Frankie Dettori is one of the finest in the industry. The 53-year-old holds numerous accolades and has trodden greater paths in his three-decade career. Having stayed so long, the jockey has garnered the love and admiration of thousands. Keeping along, the 9 golden Ascots and MBE holder received a nomination at the BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year (SPOTY) among five others over the week. However, the results weren’t to his satisfaction.

On the 19th of December, Dettori was listed out of the top 3 during the SPOTY announcement. Following the news, the champion jockey stepped ahead to share his thoughts on the results and apologize for a mistake regarding his decision last year.

Frankie Dettori expresses his thoughts

The SPOTY is one of the highest honors recognizing the most influential and marvelling sportsman of the year. Frankie Dettori fell short to England goalkeeper Mary Earps, falling out of the top 3. Nonetheless, the jockey held a positive outlook on the ultimate results. “To get to the last six, to me I’m already a winner… I already feel like a winner to be a nominee,” Dettori remarked.

He further added that he was apologetic about the retirement decision he made last year. “At the moment, because I’m still winning and the adrenaline is still there, the public still follow me -I’m sorry everyone, I made a mistake, I shouldn’t have said I was going to retire,” reports At The Races through an X post.

After dedicating over 35 years of his life to the sport, a prolong is all but expected. Even more so if one persists in garnering titles, as Frankie Dettori did through 2023. Considering his love for the sport and the adrenaline that continues to drive him, the jockey knew he couldn’t retire. Instead, find a new horizon to expand.

The jockey finds new ground

Later last year, Dettori announced to the world that after much consideration he would be retiring from horse racing later in 2023. But come the season, the 53-year-old continued his winning streak, instilling back the fierceness. But since the community came to be aware of his retirement, Dettori was adorned with farewell tours and gestures that made him realize he couldn’t go on in England.

Also Read: “Miss Watching You”: Frankie Dettori’s 2023 Preview Earns Emotional Notes from Fans

“But I’ve still got to get it out of my system, so my only option was emigrating to the USA because it’s my last chance to perhaps continue what I love,” Frankie Dettori stated. The jockey wishes to keep his feet on the racing grounds until he has an ‘enough is enough,’ movement someday.

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