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Frankie Dettori has been a memorable name in the world of Horse racing for quite some time now. However, the Italian jockey’s fascinating switch from the UK to the States in 2023 gave an entirely new set of wings to his already formidable career. In the Netflix series’ Race for the Crown,’ a sports documentary that delves into the 2024 Triple Crown race series, we get a unique glimpse at Dettori’s professional ventures. With some wins and some losses under his belt, the rider wrapped up the Triple Crown season on a middling note. Thus, his fans, long-standing and newly accrued, must find themselves intrigued about how the jockey’s personal and private life has progressed.
Frankie Dettori Had to Declare Bankruptcy in Early 2025
Lanfranco “Frankie” Dettori began his horse racing career in the 1980s and made huge professional strides over the years. He collected more than 3,000 wins in the UK, including notable wins, such as his historic 1996 Magnificent Seven run at Ascot Racecourse. In fact, his skillful riding earned him the title of British flat racing Champion Jockey three different times. In 2022, he announced his retirement, which ended up being quite short-lived as he rediscovered his passion for the sport during his farewell tour in the US. As such, instead of saying goodbye to the racetracks, Dettori decided to restart his career in the States in his 50s.
Initially, Dettori’s American career remained fruitful, with 2023 bringing him 76 wins. Even though his dreams of winning the three Triple Crown races in 2024 remained unfulfilled, he took pride in the impressive feat of simply making it to the big races. Furthermore, six in a row wins at Santa Anita, California, on Derby Day brought added renown to his name. Therefore, it was that much more difficult when early 2025 unveiled a tragic financial situation in the jockey’s life. In March 2025, Dettori filed for bankruptcy after failing to reach an agreement with His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC).
This disagreement was a result of a long-running case of tax avoidance. As per reports, the public unraveling of this event brought complications and “embarrassment” to Dettori and his public image. The jockey predicts this decision will continue to have an impact on his life for years to come. Still, he has expressed relief at enclosing this “long-term matter.” For now, he’s eager to focus on building his international horse racing career and continues to look forward to happier developments in his future.
Frankie Dettori Continues Competing at the Global Racing Stage
Frankie Dettori’s recent bankruptcy has undoubtedly brought some negative attention to his reputation. Nonetheless, the jockey continues to put his best foot forward as his focus remains on expanding his career. So far, he has already collected multiple wins under his belt. In March 2025, he won the Cutler Bay race, piloting trainer Patrick Biancone’s horse, Classic of Course. Furthermore, in April, he won his eighth Godolphin Mile with Doug O’Neill’s Raging Torrent. Dettori also came close to a win at the Dubai World Cup aboard O’Neill’s other steed, Mixto, but ended up losing the race to Florent Geroux.
As such, it remains evident that despite the recent complications to his finances and possibly his public image, Dettori continues to prove his talent and skills as a jockey. It’s these same skills that have compelled Kenny McPeek, an American Triple Crown-winning horse trainer, to consider the Italian jockey for his dream of taking on the British Epsom Derby. Reportedly, the two have been in conversations about possibly riding Maximum Promise for the race in the future. Meanwhile, Dettori’s career continues to flourish presently, as he keeps his eye on the prize.
Frankie Dettori Has Dabbled in Multiple Business Ventures
While horse racing is Frankie Dettori’s primary passion and profession, the long-time jockey has also established various other stints in his ever-expanding career. In 2023, he partnered up with Chef Francesco Mazzei to form the Numero7 restaurant, a space within the England-based Royal Ascot’s Royal Enclosure, which offers a relaxed setting and delicacies of Southern Italy. So far, the restaurant has earned the title of most visited restaurant twice in a row since its inception. On the other hand, the jockey has also capitalized on his celebrity status as an athlete and secured various TV appearances over the years.
Dettori’s work in TV started as early as 1998, when he was featured in ‘This Is Your Life,’ a British documentary show. More recently, he participated in the BBC programme ‘A Question of Sport,’ the eleventh season of ‘Celebrity Big Brother,’ and made an appearance on the survival show ‘I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!’ in 2023. Netflix’s ‘Race for the Crown’ is the newest addition to this list, allowing him to connect with the public in a widespread and authentic manner. Additionally, Dettori also dabbles in the hospitality business through his work with the travel agency Racing Breaks, which offers travel packages for race days. Still, as the jockey continues residing in California with his wife, Catherine, building an international career in horse racing remains his number one professional priority.
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