‘SUPER EXCITED’ Frankie Dettori is ‘delighted’ to land a new job just hours after announcing his retirement, seeing it as a ‘natural next step’.
In the electrifying world of horse racing, few names evoke as much passion and spectacle as Frankie Dettori. The Italian maestro, whose flamboyant style and unyielding spirit have defined generations of the sport, has once again captured headlines—not with a daring dismount or a last-second victory, but with a poignant pivot toward the horizon. Just hours after confirming his retirement from race riding following the 2025 Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar, California, Dettori revealed a thrilling new chapter: his appointment as global brand ambassador for Amo Racing, the powerhouse operation owned by Kia Joorabchian. “I’m super excited,” Dettori beamed in an exclusive interview, his trademark grin lighting up the screen. “Delighted doesn’t even cover it—this feels like the natural next step after all these years in the saddle.”
The announcement, dropping like a perfectly timed furlong sprint on October 30, 2025, came mere hours after Dettori’s emotional farewell statement on social media. In a post that garnered millions of views and an outpouring of tributes from fans, fellow jockeys, and racing royalty alike, the 54-year-old reflected on a career spanning nearly four decades. “Following the Breeders’ Cup on Saturday, I will be retiring from race riding in the United States and concluding my career with a few rides in South America, something I’ve always wanted to do,” he wrote, signing off with a simple “Ciao, Frankie.” It was a nod to his roots, a fulfillment of a lifelong dream to gallop under South American skies before hanging up his silks for good. Yet, true to form, Dettori wasted no time in scripting his encore. By evening, whispers from the Amo Racing camp had turned into a full-throated celebration, with Joorabchian himself hailing the hire as a “game-changer” for the stable’s global ambitions.
For those unfamiliar with Dettori’s odyssey, his path reads like a racing epic laced with triumph, tragedy, and tenacious comebacks. Born Lanfranco Dettori in Milan on December 15, 1970, to legendary jockey Gianfranco Dettori, Frankie was saddled for greatness from the start. He claimed his first winner in Italy at age 16, but it was his 1987 move to England, apprenticed under the legendary Luca Cumani, that ignited his ascent. The boy who arrived speaking little English quickly became the sport’s showman-in-chief. By 1994, he was British Flat Champion Jockey, a title he defended in 1995 and reclaimed in 2004. His tally? A staggering 282 Group One victories worldwide, including 21 British Classics, six Prix de l’Arc de Triomphes, and 14 Breeders’ Cup triumphs. But it’s the moments of magic that immortalized him: the “Magnificent Seven” at Ascot in 1996, where he defied 25,000-1 odds to win every race on the card, sending bookies into meltdown and fans into frenzy.
Dettori’s flair extended far beyond the track. His signature flying dismount—leaping from his mount like a triumphant gladiator—became as iconic as his pizza-loving persona and unfiltered candor. Yet, the ride was never smooth. A devastating plane crash in 2000 near Newmarket claimed the life of his pilot and left Dettori with life-altering injuries, a six-month ban for cocaine traces in 2012 tested his resilience, and earlier this year, a bankruptcy filing amid a protracted tax dispute with HMRC added financial thorns to his crown. Through it all, Dettori’s charisma endured, turning setbacks into stories that humanized a larger-than-life figure. “It’s been very colourful,” he mused recently. “Highs, lows, bad injuries—but I did something I loved. And now, even without riding, I’m still part of this world. I’m very fortunate.”
Enter Amo Racing, the British-based powerhouse that’s been scaling new heights since Joorabchian founded it in 2020. With a stable boasting stars like Group One winners and a reputation for shrewd international dealings, Amo has become synonymous with bold, boundary-pushing ownership. Dettori’s role as global brand ambassador isn’t mere ceremonial pomp; it’s a hands-on immersion. He’ll jet between continents, scouting talent, forging partnerships, and lending his Midas touch to Amo’s burgeoning bloodstock empire. “Frankie is going to get himself stuck in—this is not a part-time job,” Joorabchian declared, likening his new charge to “the Messi of horseracing.” For Dettori, it’s a seamless evolution. “I’ve ridden for the best—Godolphin, Juddmonte, Coolmore—and now I get to build something from the other side,” he said. “Advising on buys, mentoring young riders, representing Amo at the sales… it’s exhilarating. Super excited, truly.”
The timing couldn’t be more poetic. Dettori’s U.S. sojourn, which began as a “victory lap” extension of his initial 2023 retirement tease, has been a revelation. Relocating to California after that aborted farewell, he notched six winners in his first two weeks at Santa Anita and claimed the prestigious Santa Anita Handicap in 2024 aboard Bob Baffert’s Newgate. His Breeders’ Cup rides this weekend—aboard promising contenders in the Juvenile Fillies Turf and beyond—promise one last blaze of glory. Then, a brief detour to South America for those cherished final mounts, perhaps at Argentina’s Gran Premio Internacional Carlos Pellegrini or Chile’s premier events. “It’s closing the circle,” Dettori explained. “From my Italian start to global finishes—perfect.”
Reactions have poured in like champagne at a champions’ gala. John Berry, the Thoroughbred Daily News scribe who chronicled Dettori’s early days, penned a tribute calling him “the entertainer who thrived against the odds.” Rivals like Ryan Moore and Oisin Murphy hailed his influence, while fans flooded social media with #ThankYouFrankie montages. Even Queen Elizabeth II, for whom he rode winners like Estimate in the 2013 Gold Cup, would have approved of this dignified yet dynamic transition. In an era where racing grapples with waning visibility, Dettori’s move to Amo could amplify the sport’s allure, drawing in celebrities and casual observers through his star power.
As the sun sets on Dettori’s riding days, a new dawn breaks. No longer the jockey charging down the straight, he’ll be the strategist in the shadows, the ambassador with the golden Rolodex. At 54, with a lifetime of wisdom distilled into every anecdote, Frankie Dettori isn’t fading away—he’s pivoting, propelling forward. “Retirement? It’s just retirement from the saddle,” he quipped. “The thrill? That’s forever.” For horse racing’s eternal showman, the next step isn’t an end; it’s an invitation to the encore. And if history is any guide, it’ll be magnificent.
