Frankie Dettori’s reason for missing Royal Ascot as iconic jockey avoids event

Legendary jockey Frankie Dettori will not be riding at Royal Ascot this year as he is sticking to his promise to retire from British racing.

Dettori, 53, has been at the centre of several unforgettable moments at the prestigious race meeting, including his surprise ninth triumph in the Ascot Gold Cup last year. The Italian guided Courage Mon Ami on a perfectly timed charge, late on, to pull in front of the favourite Coltrane, ridden by Oisin Murphy.

The win sparked incredible scenes as Dettori had already confirmed that it would be his final year at Royal Ascot. Despite giving his word, there had been speculation that Dettori, who has continued racing in the US, could make an unexpected return but he will only be in attendance as a punter.

“Frankie told me in Dubai that he wasn’t going to ride there, because he didn’t think it was the right thing to do after he’d retired from British racing, and I’m kind of glad,” Murphy told the Racing Post.

“He’s giving younger guys and girls an opportunity. He’d have taken me off a few horses, and other people as well, so I’m glad he’s taking that approach.”

It had been rumoured that Dettori could potentially ride a horse from US trainer Wesley Ward’s stable but it appears he will be fulfilling a different role at Ascot this year. Dettori will be working as part of a hospitality venture with Italian chef Francesco Mazzei in the Royal Enclosure.

The racing legend partially reversed his decision to retire in October 2023 by opting to race in the US, but has stayed away from British meetings since the end of last year. Dettori enjoyed a dream start to his life stateside – riding six consecutive winners on the same day at cumulative odds of 77,000/1 in April – and will enjoy another new experience on his return to Ascot this week.

“Frankie is going as a racegoer,” Hannah Tufnell of H Talent Management, which represents the jockey, said about Dettori. “He made the decision to retire from British racing last October, and he is going to honour that.

“He will be enjoying some quality time with family and friends, having his first experience of the meeting out of the saddle.”

That will please Dettori’s rivals, who will all be striving for winners at Royal Ascot. However, Murphy admits that it is almost impossible for jockeys to emulate the impact that Dettori has had on British racing.

“It doesn’t even cross my mind that the rest of us need to step up to replace him,” Murphy admitted. “He rode for the powerhouses of British racing throughout his career and built up a celebrity profile to go with it, and I’m not capable of that. Other riders will make their own profiles but they won’t be like his.

“Of course British racing will miss him but it’ll give others an opportunity to find their role, their niche in the ecosystem.”