Frankie (Abridged‪)‬

Frankie Dettori is a unique character in modern-day Britain: a millionaire champion jockey irresistible to the punters; a charismatic personality with an easy charm and immaculate dress sense that make him an instant favourite on TV chat shows; and a celebrity with a fascinating life story encompassing drama, passion, death and deliverance.

In his own words, Frankie Dettori charts his rise from stable lad to champion jockey, revealing the endless hours of hard work, the fun along the way, and his determination to succeed against the odds.

His book relives his nine Classic winners in the UK and features his notable victories at the St Leger, The Breeder’s Cup Mile, the Arc de Triomphe, the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, and, memorably, his seven winners on the same card at Ascot in 1996. We also discover the secrets of his successful partnerships with trainers like Luca Cumani and John Gosden, and owners such as Sheikh Mohammed of the Goldolphin organisation.

This is also a human interest story. Frankie talks openly about using drugs to keep his weight down, his celebrity role as team captain on ‘A Question of Sport’, his rich and varied lifestyle outside of racing, and of the moment when he almost lost his life following a plane crash.

Controversial, informative and hugely entertaining, Frankie Dettori’s life story will appeal to the millions of people who follow the sport as well as those intrigued to know more about one of the greatest talents that horse-racing has ever seen.

Reviews

‘He’s probably the most recognised man on a horse anywhere in the world since Clint Eastwood and John Wayne’ International Racing Bureau

‘He’s that rare thing in horseracing – a real superstar’ BBC

About the author

Frankie Dettori was born in Milan in December 1970. He was sent to Newmarket at the age of 16 by his father, Lanfranco, a former Italian champion jockey, where he worked as a bookie before being taken up by the trainer Luca Cumani. In 1990 he became the first teenager since Lester Piggott to ride 100 winners in a season. In the next ten years he became one of the most successful jockeys the flat has ever seen, and was awarded an MBE in 2000. He is currently the No 1 stable jockey of Sheikh Mohammed. He has a wife, Catherine, and four children.

Jonathan Powell is horse racing correspondent on the Mail on Sunday.