On 28 September 1996, Lanfranco Dettori achieved the rare feat of riding seven winners across seven races during the British Festival of Racing at Ascot Racecourse. This performance, involving odds of 25,095-1, established the Italian-born equestrian as a central figure in international horse racing, costing the betting industry an estimated 40 million pounds in a single afternoon.
Early Career and Relocation
Born in Milan on 15 December 1970 to champion jockey Gianfranco Dettori, he initially focused on football before riding a pony named Silvia at age nine. At thirteen, he left school to work in racing stables. In July 1985, he moved to Newmarket to join the yard of trainer Luca Cumani. He secured his first British win at Goodwood in June 1987 and earned the British flat racing Champion Apprentice title in 1989 after recording 75 wins.
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Dettori signed with Sheikh Mohammed's Godolphin racing operation in 1994, beginning an eighteen-year tenure that produced most of his global victories. He became British flat racing Champion Jockey in 1994 and 1995, and again in 2004. During this period, he piloted winners in major events, including the Epsom Oaks, the Irish Derby, and the Breeders' Cup Mile on Barathea. In 2000, he survived a light aircraft crash in Newmarket alongside colleague Ray Cochrane.
Final Years and Retirement
Following his departure from Godolphin at the end of 2012, his career included a six-month suspension and a period as a retained rider for Al Shaqab Racing from 2013 to 2018. Subsequent successes involved horses trained by John Gosden, such as Enable and Stradivarius. After announcing that 2023 would be his final year of professional racing in Britain, he relocated to California. He retired from active race riding in February 2026.
Fast facts
- Born: 15 December 1970, Milan
- Total Group 1 wins: 288
- British Classic winners: 23
- Champion Jockey titles: 3 (1994, 1995, 2004)
- Professional career duration: Over 35 years
- Retirement date: February 2026
Questions readers ask
Did Frankie Dettori win all races on a single card?
Yes, on 28 September 1996 at Ascot, he rode all seven winners on the British Festival of Racing Day.
What is Dettori's trademark move?
His signature flying dismount, a technique he learned from jockey Ángel Cordero Jr. while working in California.
