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The journey has been a thrilling, glorious and at times bumpy ride, yet now, it appears the famed jockey's mind is made up. The most storied jockey of the past four decades will effectively enter retirement following the primary events during the Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar this Saturday, when he will have three opportunities to secure one last top-tier victory to his almost 300 already in his record. Racing may not see a career quite like it again.

An Iconic Figure

Alongside racing great Lester Piggott and perhaps John McCririck in the last 50 years, Frankie Dettori registers with almost everybody, without needing a last name. People know his identity, even if they have no interest at all in what he does. In a world that has been divided by social media and online networks, Dettori may well be the final equestrian personality who will ever enjoy such instant brand recognition across a broad swathe of Britain's people.

His entire career in horse racing, in fact, goes back to a time when the show A Question Of Sport regularly pulled in more than 10 million viewers, and a three-year stint as a team leader was sufficient to establish him as the lively, unforgettable figure 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 last occasion. For much of the British public, though, he has likely been the champion in most years after that.

A Hard-Won Celebrity

It is, in many respects, a hard-won celebrity, a mixed blessing for incidents both on and off the track which have often pushed Dettori onto the front pages, since the unforgettable afternoon at Ascot in 1996 when he overcame odds of 25,000-1 to ride all seven winners on the card.

Back in June 2000, he was rescued from the burning wreckage of a light aircraft by his fellow rider, Ray Cochrane, following an accident on takeoff where the pilot lost his life. When at last concluded his pursuit for a Derby victory in 2007, that also became front-page news.

And if everyone loves a winner, they often love a flawed hero and a return even more. A half-year suspension following a positive drug test for cocaine could have been the finish for many riders in their forties, 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 trainer John Gosden at Newmarket, and a fresh succession of winners and Classic winners, such as Enable, Golden Horn and Stradivarius.

Public Highs and Lows

The public highs and setbacks were an essential part of Dettori’s story, right up until the humiliating admission this past March that he filed for bankruptcy following a long-standing disagreement with HMRC regarding unpaid taxes, a circumstance that he attempted, and failed, to keep confidential.

There have been numerous turns to the tale, indeed, that it's easy to overlook that without Dettori’s immense, once-in-a-generation skill, there would be no narrative whatsoever.

Natural Ability

It was clear from the start as a teenage apprentice that there was an instinctive rapport between horse and rider whenever Dettori was on board.

Steeds performed for him, and improved for him. In 1990, he was the first teenager since 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 day that he would dominate without a loss only six years later. His iconic flying dismount, adopted from the US legend Angel Cordero Jr, was incorporated into Dettori’s repertoire in 1994, and the thrill from winning major races has never left him. Nor has the gift of sensing, with something akin to clairvoyance, where to sit, when to make a move and where openings will emerge.

What Comes Next?

But what next for the public face of British racing? It won't be simple to step away completely, whether or not Dettori pursues his expressed wish to accept some mounts in South America, which is something I’ve always wanted to do”. It is not, after all, an ambition that he had mentioned until now.

But the calamitous decision to follow tax guidance that resulted in his tax issues indicates that Dettori will not draw down the curtain with enough money in the bank to relax and take it easy.

New Role and Opportunities

He has already been appointed to a new position as an international ambassador with the soccer agent Kia Joorabchian’s growing Amo Racing enterprise. He explained to Matt Chapman on At The Races on Friday this was the primary reason for his exit now, as well as being able to finish at the Breeders’ Cup. “These opportunities don’t come along, frequently. I appreciate the structure – this is a young team with huge goals,” explained the jockey.

Joorabchian personally, was effusive in his compliments for his new recruit at Del Mar on Thursday. “He is an icon, he is a true legend of the sport,” Joorabchian said. “When you talk about great sportsmen like LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Lionel Messi and Pelés 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 countless lives across the world.

“He’s not here|“He isn't here} to amuse audiences, he's here to work and he will working with us closely. He will participate in every area of our operations though he won't serve as a racing manager. He is an international ambassador.”

Reality TV are another option, though previous appearances on Celebrity Big Brother and I’m A Celebrity … have tended to reveal a moodier side of his personality, beneath the cheerful public image. On both shows, he was an early casualty of the public vote.

It may be that Dettori personally is unsure what he will do and how to spend his time once his race-riding days are over. And for at least one more day, he remains a top-level professional jockey, concentrating on three mounts at one of the most prestigious and glamorous events in the calendar.

The Final Ride

A five-year-old filly named Argine will be Dettori’s final Grade One mount in the Breeders’ Cup Mile, the identical event where he achieved his initial Breeders’ Cup win in 1994. Her performance in Japan in Japan suggests that she has something to improve to compete, but few riders in history have ever excelled in big moments like Frankie Dettori.

One last time, is it time for Frankie?