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The journey has been an exhilarating, glorious and sometimes rocky path, yet now, it seems the famed jockey's mind is made up. The most celebrated rider of the past 40 years is set to enter retirement after the main card during the Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar on Saturday, when he will have three chances to add a farewell top-tier victory to nearly 300 on his record already. The sport might not witness a career like his ever again.

An Iconic Figure

Together with Lester Piggott and perhaps John McCririck over the past half-century, Frankie Dettori is recognized by pretty much everyone, no surname required. People know his identity, even if they possess absolutely no interest in what he does. In today's world which has become fragmented by social media and the internet, Dettori could be the last racing figure that will ever experience such immediate brand recognition among a wide segment of the British population.

His entire career in the sport, after all, goes back to an era when the show A Question Of Sport often attracted over 10 million audience members, and a three-year stint as a team captain was sufficient to establish him as the bubbly, unforgettable figure of racing. His final year on the show came in 2004, which was also the year when he won the top jockey award for a third and last occasion. For many in the UK, however, he has likely been the champion in most years since.

A Hard-Earned Fame

This is, in many respects, a hard-earned fame, a mixed blessing for events both on and off the track which have often propelled Dettori onto the front pages, since the unforgettable afternoon at Ascot in 1996 when he defied massive 25,000-1 odds to win all seven races on the card.

Back in June 2000, he was pulled from the burning wreckage of a light aircraft by his fellow rider, Ray Cochrane, following an accident on takeoff where the pilot was killed. When at last ended his quest for a Derby victory in 2007, that also became headline news.

And if everyone loves a champion, they frequently adore a flawed hero and a comeback even more. A six-month ban after a failed drug test for cocaine would have been the finish for many riders in their 40s, more than enough time for trainers and owners to find a younger alternative. For Dettori, though, his 2012 suspension served as a bridge to a renewed association with trainer John Gosden at Newmarket, and a fresh succession of champions and Classic winners, such as Enable, Golden Horn and Stradivarius.

Ups and Downs

The public highs and setbacks were a crucial element of Dettori’s story, right up until the embarrassing confession in March that he filed for bankruptcy following a long-standing disagreement with HMRC over unpaid taxes, a circumstance that he attempted, and failed, to keep confidential.

There have been numerous turns to the tale, indeed, that it can be easy to forget that absent his tremendous, once-in-a-generation skill, there would have been no narrative whatsoever.

Natural Ability

It was evident from the start as a young apprentice that there was a natural connection between horse and rider whenever 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 announced his arrival among the elite with two Group One wins at Ascot, on the same card that he would charge through unbeaten only six years later. His iconic flying dismount, copied from the American legend Angel Cordero Jr, was added to his routine in 1994, and the thrill from riding a big-race winner has never left him. Nor has the gift of knowing, with something akin to foresight, where to sit, when to make a move and where the gaps will appear.

The Future Ahead

But what next for the recognizable figure of British racing? It will not be easy to finally let go, whether or not Dettori fulfils his apparent desire to take “a few rides in South America, something that I’ve always wanted to do”. This is not, after all, a goal that he had mentioned until now.

But the calamitous decision to accept the tax advice that led to his tax issues means that he will not draw down the curtain with enough money saved up to kick back and take things easy.

New Role and Opportunities

He has already been appointed to a new position as a “global ambassador” with the football super-agent Kia Joorabchian's growing Amo Racing operation. He explained to Matt Chapman on At The Races last Friday this was the main reason for his departure now, along with the chance to conclude at the Breeders’ Cup. “These opportunities don’t come along, very often. I appreciate the structure – it's a youthful team with huge goals,” explained the jockey.

Joorabchian personally, was effusive in his compliments for his new ambassador at Del Mar on Thursday. “He’s an icon, he is a true legend in the sport,” Joorabchian said. “When discussing elite athletes like LeBron James, Currys, Messis and Pelé and people like that, Frankie is that for horse racing. When visiting Royal Ascot, you see a statue there, you realize that he’s made a big impact countless lives worldwide.

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

Television reality shows are another option, although earlier outings on Big Brother and I'm A Celebrity have tended to reveal a more somber aspect to Dettori’s character, beneath the cheerful public persona. In both programs, he was an early casualty due to viewer votes.

It's possible that Dettori himself is unsure what he will do and how he will fill his time once his race-riding days ends. And for at least 24 hours at least, he stays a top-level professional jockey, focused on three rides at one of the most prestigious and glamorous events in the calendar.

The Final Ride

A five-year-old mare named Argine will be Dettori’s last top-level ride in the Breeders’ Cup Mile, the same race in which he registered his initial Breeders’ Cup win in 1994. Her performance in Japan indicates that she has something to find to figure, but few riders historically have excelled in big moments like Frankie Dettori.

One last time, is it time for Frankie?