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It has been a thrilling, magnificent and at times bumpy ride, yet now, it seems Frankie Dettori's mind is made up. The most celebrated jockey over the last four decades is set to enter retirement after the main card at the Breeders’ Cup in Del Mar on Saturday, where he has three chances to add a farewell top-tier victory to his almost 300 on his record already. The sport might not witness a career like his ever again.

An Iconic Figure

Together with racing great Lester Piggott and maybe John McCririck over the past half-century, “Frankie” registers with almost everybody, without needing a last name. People know his identity, even if they possess no interest at all in his profession. In a world which has become fragmented by digital platforms and the internet, Dettori may well be the last racing figure that will ever enjoy such instant brand recognition across a broad swathe of Britain's people.

His entire career in the sport, after all, goes back to a time when A Question Of Sport regularly pulled in over 10 million audience members, and a three-year stint as a team leader was sufficient to cement him as the bubbly, unforgettable figure of the sport. His last year on the program came in 2004, which was also the time when he won the top jockey award for the third and last occasion. As far as many in the UK, however, he has probably been the champion for many seasons since.

A Hard-Won Celebrity

It is, in many respects, a hard-earned fame, a mixed blessing for events both on and off the track that have repeatedly propelled Dettori into the headlines, since that memorable day at Ascot in 1996 when he overcame massive 25,000-1 odds to ride all seven winners on the card.

Back in June 2000, he was pulled from a fiery crash of a light aircraft by fellow jockey, Ray Cochrane, after a crash on takeoff where the pilot lost his life. When at last concluded his pursuit for a Derby winner in 2007, that too was front-page news.

While everyone admires a champion, they often love a flawed hero and a return all the more. A six-month ban after a failed drug test for cocaine would have been the end of many riders in their 40s, more than enough time for owners and trainers to find a younger alternative. For Dettori, though, his 2012 suspension served as a bridge to a renewed association with John Gosden in Newmarket, and a new series of winners and classic victors, such as Enable, Golden Horn and Stradivarius.

Public Highs and Lows

The public highs and lows have been an essential part of Dettori’s story, up to and including the humiliating admission in March that he filed for bankruptcy following a long-standing disagreement with tax authorities over unpaid taxes, a circumstance that Dettori tried, and failed, to keep private.

There have been numerous turns to the tale, in fact, that it's easy to overlook that without his tremendous, generational talent, there would be no story at all.

Natural Ability

It was clear from his earliest days as a young apprentice that he had a natural connection between horse and rider when Dettori was on board.

Horses ran for him, and got better under him. Back in 1990, he became the first teen since Lester Piggott to achieve 100 wins in one season, and also announced his emergence among the elite with a Group One double at Ascot, on the same card that he would dominate through unbeaten just six years later. The famous flying dismount, copied from the American legend Angel Cordero Jr, was incorporated into his routine in 1994, and the thrill from riding a big-race winner has always stayed with him. Neither has the talent of knowing, with something akin to clairvoyance, where to position, when to strike and where openings will appear.

What Comes Next?

But what now for the public face of British racing? It will not be easy to finally let go, regardless if Dettori fulfils his expressed wish to accept some mounts in South America, something that he always wanted to experience”. It is not, in fact, a goal that he has mentioned until now.

However, the disastrous choice to accept the tax advice that led to his dispute with HMRC means that he will not end his career with enough money in the bank to kick back and take things easy.

Fresh Ventures

He has already been appointed to a new position as an international ambassador with the soccer agent Kia Joorabchian's burgeoning Amo Racing operation. He explained to Matt Chapman on At The Races on 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, very often. I like the set-up – this is a young team with huge goals,” explained the jockey.

Joorabchian personally, was gushing in his praise for his new recruit on Thursday at Del Mar. “He is an icon, a genuine legend in the sport,” Joorabchian said. “When discussing elite athletes like LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Lionel Messi and Pelé and similar figures, Frankie is that for horse racing. When you go into Royal Ascot, you notice a statue, you realize that he has influenced countless lives worldwide.

“He’s not here|“He isn't here} to entertain people, he’s here to actually work and he will collaborate with us very closely. He will participate in all aspects of our operations though he won't serve as a racing manager. He is a global ambassador.”

Television reality shows are another option, though previous appearances on Celebrity Big Brother and I'm A Celebrity have tended to reveal a more somber aspect to Dettori’s character, beneath the cheerful public image. On both shows, he was an early exit of the public vote.

It may be that Dettori personally is unsure what he'll do and how he will fill his time after his riding career ends. And for at least 24 hours at least, he remains a top-level professional jockey, focused on three rides at one of the most prestigious and glamorous events on the schedule.

The Final Ride

A five-year-old mare named Argine will be Dettori’s final Grade One mount in the Breeders’ Cup Mile, the same race where he achieved his initial Breeders’ Cup win in 1994. Her performance in Japan indicates that she has something to improve to compete, but few riders historically have risen to an occasion like Lanfranco Dettori.

For one final time, is it time for Frankie?