For many years, the racing world has been graced by one of the sport’s most beloved and iconic stallions, Italy’s Stallion Frankie Dettori, but sadly it is time to say goodbye.
Back in December at the age of 52, the legendary player announced that he would retire from the sport at the end of the season as he began his 11-month farewell tour. The Breeders’ Cup meeting at Santa Anita on November 4 should be his last race, the way he guided Raven’s Pass a successful and successful outing for a British-trained jockey in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.
Flying Frankie will bow out after enjoying a career that includes three British Racing Champion wins, 287 Group 1 race wins and 23 British Classic race wins. Racing fans are hoping that his storied career will have a fitting end, but without a doubt, Dettori will go down as one of the greatest athletes the sport has ever seen.
But where does he really stand in the debate? And which other contestants can claim to have goat jocks? Here’s our look at where Dettori ranks among the all-time greats.
#5 Sir Tony McCoy
Recognized as the leading National Hunt jockey of today, McCoy’s place as one of the greatest jockeys of all time is assured.
The young Irish jockey burst onto the scene in 1992 after recording his first win at Thurles Racecourse and never looked back. McCoy holds the record for most post-season wins by a National Hunt jockey, with 253, and was the fastest to 1000 winners. He is also the only jockey to win more than 2,500 races.
He was made to wait for his first victory at the Aintree Grand National but he made it big in 2010 when he rode Don’t Push It to victory and fulfilled a lifelong ambition. But his career became a household name among the jockeys during his successful run from 1995/96 to 2014/15 which saw him named British Jump Racing Champion Jockey for 20 consecutive seasons.
His achievements were recognized when he was awarded an MBE in 2003 and an OBE in 2010, and He died in 2016. His long list of accolades makes McCoy fifth on our list.
#4 Frankie Dettori
Coming in at number 4 on our list is the man of ora Dettori. While his list of accomplishments over the past 35 years is what he will be remembered for, he had a great year in 2023 as well. top horse racing betting sites be with him on 5/2 to win the Sports Personality of the Year award.
While the 35-year-old Italian’s retirement in 2023 would be unlikely to create any fanfare, the fourth on our list seems to best reflect his achievements and standing throughout the game. Dettori’s potential was evident from the time he left school at the age of 13 and began his career as a jockey. He first gained attention in 1990 for becoming the first youngster to reach 100 wins in a season since the great Lester Piggott.
Perhaps his most impressive success is his record at Ascot in 1996 where he managed to win all seven races in one day. His success in the sport and his successful partnerships with Stradivarius, Enable, Golden Horn, Authorized, Shamardal, Singspiel, and many others around the world confirm Dettori’s place among the elite athletes.
#3 Laffit Pincay Jr.
Few racers have had as successful a start to their career as Pincay Jr., winning an astonishing eight of his first 11 races, but even fewer have continued to excel throughout.
The Panamanian Hall of Famer was one jockey who managed to complete a career that spanned four decades and amass an incredible 9530 wins, placing him third on the all-time winning list. Pincay has won nearly every major race on the US calendar, including nine wins in the Hollywood Gold Cup, three consecutive victories in the Belmont Stakes, and one valuable win in the Kentucky Derby.
After his retirement in 2003, Pincay’s influence on the game did not end. His performances left an indelible mark on the game and as a result the Laffit Pincay Jr. Award. it is awarded annually on Hollywood Gold Cup Day to a member of the athletic team who has demonstrated ‘integrity, dedication, commitment, and distinction’. He is a legend in every sense of the word.
#2 Lester Piggott
Piggott earns the second place on our list not because of his successful career but because of his famous name, ‘The Tall Woman‘. Piggott started racing at the age of 12, with his record
Fans gave him a chance but he didn’t retire from the track until he was in his sixties. Piggott was born into a long line of horsemen and horsemen, a legacy he seemed eager to add to and act on. During his career, he won 4000, and 30 British Classics which included the UK Triple Crown of 2,000 Guineas, the Epsom Derby, and the St Leger with Nijinsky in 1970.
Despite standing at 5 feet 8 inches, his style has been emulated ever since and he is regarded by many as the greatest jockey in the history of the sport.
#1 William Shoemaker
That honor could go to one on our list, but the player who has won the event is American Bill Shoemaker. His career as a jockey began when he became US Champion Jockey less than a year after becoming a professional. Despite being third on the all-time winning list of American Flat jockeys, Shoemaker had a career strikeout rate of over 20%, and had 8000 wins in 40,350 races. Because of his small stature, Shoemaker was able to top the earnings table 10 times in his career in the saddle and estimates that the American won nearly $120 million as a jockey. In 1958, he was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame and his career as the greatest jockey to ever grace the sport.
LiveScores Now Available at IrishScores.com