 |
|
Frankie Dettori is probably the best-known jockey in the world. In a hugely successful career, he has won practically everything, apart from the Derby.
He was born Lanfranco Dettori in Milan. His father Gianfranco was a champion jockey himself in Italy, while his mother was a circus performer who did backflips standing astride two horses. Perhaps that's where Frankie gets his own athletic ability - he's famous for his celebratory leap from the saddle after winning races.
Frankie's father bought him a palomino pony when he was eight and he used to practise on it for half an hour every night. When he was 13, Frankie left school to become a stable boy and apprentice jockey. The following year he came over to Britain to be an apprentice to the Italian trainer Luca Cumani in Newmarket. Frankie earned £12.50 a week but looks back on it as one of the best times of his life.
Frankie became the first teenager since Lester Piggott to ride 100 winners in one season. His first winner came at the age of 16 in Turin in November 1986, while his first in Britain was the following June.
He became champion jockey in 1994 with 233 winners and retained the title the
following year. In 1996 he made history by riding seven winners from seven rides at the Ascot Festival.
Away from racing, Frankie supports Arsenal and Juventus. He's presented Top of the Pops, was given the red book on This is Your Life and appeared on Onside and A Question of Sport.
He was awarded an honorary MBE at the beginning of 2001 - it's only honorary because Frankie is Italian.
|
