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The journey has been an exhilarating, magnificent and at times bumpy ride, but this time, it appears Frankie Dettori's decision is final. The most storied rider of the past 40 years will effectively enter retirement following the primary events at the Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar this Saturday, when he will have three chances to secure one last Grade One winner to his almost 300 on his record already. The sport might not witness a career like his ever again.

An Iconic Figure

Alongside racing great Lester Piggott and maybe John McCririck in the last 50 years, Frankie Dettori is recognized by pretty much everyone, no surname required. People know who he is, even if they possess absolutely no interest in his profession. In today's world that has been divided by digital platforms and the internet, Dettori may well be the final equestrian personality that will ever enjoy such instant name-recognition among a wide segment of the British population.

His entire career in horse racing, after all, goes back to a time when A Question Of Sport often attracted more than 10 million viewers, and his three-year role as a team captain was sufficient to cement him as the bubbly, irrepressible face of the sport. His last year on the show came in 2004, that was also the year when he secured the top jockey award for the third and final time. As far as many in the UK, though, he has probably been the top jockey in most years since.

A Hard-Earned Fame

This is, in many ways, a hard-earned fame, a double-edged reward for incidents both on and off the track that have repeatedly pushed Dettori onto the front pages, ever since the unforgettable afternoon at Ascot in 1996 when he defied massive 25,000-1 odds to ride all seven winners that day.

In June 2000, he was rescued from the burning wreckage of a small plane by fellow jockey, Ray Cochrane, following an accident during takeoff where the pilot was killed. When he finally concluded his pursuit for a Derby winner in 2007, that too was headline news.

While everyone admires a winner, they often love an imperfect hero and a return all the more. A six-month ban following a positive drug test for cocaine could have been the end of many riders in their forties, plenty of time for owners and trainers to find a younger alternative. For Dettori, however, suspension in December 2012 was a bridge to a renewed association with John Gosden at Newmarket, and a new series of winners and classic victors, such as Enable, Golden Horn and Stradivarius.

Ups and Downs

The public highs and lows have been an essential part of Dettori’s story, up to and including the embarrassing confession in March that he filed for bankruptcy following a long-standing disagreement with HMRC regarding unpaid taxes, a situation that Dettori tried, and failed, to keep confidential.

There have been so many twists to the tale, in fact, that it's easy to forget that absent Dettori’s immense, once-in-a-generation skill, there would have been no narrative whatsoever.

Early Talent and Instincts

It was evident from the start as a teenage apprentice that he had a natural connection with the horses when Dettori was in the saddle.

Horses ran for him, and improved for him. In 1990, he became the first teen since Lester Piggott to achieve 100 wins in one season, and also marked his arrival among the elite with a Group One double at Ascot, on the same card that he would charge without a loss only six years later. His iconic flying dismount, adopted from the US legend Angel Cordero Jr, was added to Dettori’s repertoire in 1994, and the buzz from winning major races has never left him. Nor has the gift of sensing, with almost foresight, where to position, when to strike and where the gaps will emerge.

The Future Ahead

But what next for the public face of UK horse racing? It will not be easy to step away completely, regardless if Dettori fulfils his expressed wish to take “a few rides in South America, which is something he always wanted to experience”. It is not, in fact, a goal that he has mentioned previously.

However, the disastrous choice to accept the tax advice that resulted in his dispute with HMRC means that he will not draw down the curtain with sufficient funds saved up to kick back and take things easy.

Fresh Ventures

He has already been confirmed in a new role as a “global ambassador” with the football super-agent Kia Joorabchian’s burgeoning Amo Racing operation. He explained to racing presenter Matt Chapman last Friday this was the primary reason for his departure now, as well as being able to finish at the Breeders’ Cup. “These opportunities are rare, frequently. I appreciate the structure – it's a youthful team with huge goals,” said the rider.

Joorabchian personally, was gushing in his praise for his new ambassador at Del Mar on Thursday. “He is an icon, a genuine legend in the sport,” he stated. “When you talk about elite athletes such as LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Lionel Messi and Pelé and people like that, Frankie represents that to horse racing. When you go into Royal Ascot, you notice a statue, you realize that he’s made a big impact on so many lives across the world.

“He’s not here|“He isn't here} to entertain people, he’s here to actually work and he will collaborate with us closely. He will be involved in every area of our operations [but] he won’t be a racing manager. He is a global ambassador.”

Television reality shows are another option, although earlier outings on Celebrity Big Brother and I’m A Celebrity … often showed a more somber aspect to Dettori’s character, beneath the cheerful public image. In both programs, he was an early casualty of the public vote.

It may be that Dettori personally is unsure what he'll do and how he will fill his time once his race-riding days ends. And for another 24 hours at least, he remains a top-level professional jockey, focused on three rides at one of the globe's prestigious and dazzling events in the calendar.

The Final Ride

A five-year-old mare called Argine will be Dettori’s final Grade One mount in the Breeders’ Cup Mile, the identical event where he achieved his first Breeders’ Cup success back in 1994. Her form at home in Japan suggests that she needs to find to figure, but few riders historically have risen to an occasion like Lanfranco Dettori.

One last time, is it time for Frankie?