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It has been a thrilling, magnificent and at times rocky path, but this time, it appears Frankie Dettori's decision is final. The most celebrated jockey of the past 40 years will effectively head into retirement following the primary events during the Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar this Saturday, where he has three chances to secure one last Grade One winner to his almost 300 on his record already. The sport might not see a career quite like it again.

An Iconic Figure

Alongside Lester Piggott and maybe John McCririck in the last 50 years, “Frankie” is recognized by almost everybody, no surname required. People know his identity, even if they have absolutely no interest in his profession. In today's world which has become divided by social media and online networks, Dettori could be the last racing figure who will ever enjoy such instant brand recognition across a broad swathe of Britain's people.

Dettori’s lifetime in the sport, in fact, goes back to an era when the show A Question Of Sport regularly pulled in over 10 million audience members, and his three-year role as a team leader was sufficient to cement him as the bubbly, irrepressible face of racing. His final year on the show came in 2004, which was also the year when he secured the Flat jockeys’ title for a third and final time. For much of the British public, however, he has probably been the top jockey for many seasons after that.

A Hard-Won Celebrity

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

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

And if everyone loves a winner, they often love a flawed hero and a comeback all the more. A six-month ban after a failed drug test for cocaine could have been the end of most jockeys in their forties, more than enough time for trainers and owners to seek a younger replacement. For Dettori, however, his 2012 suspension served as a bridge to a revived partnership with John Gosden in Newmarket, and a new series of champions and classic victors, such as Enable, Golden Horn and Stradivarius.

Ups and Downs

The public highs and setbacks were an essential part of his narrative, up to and including the embarrassing confession in March that he was filing for bankruptcy after a prolonged dispute with HMRC over unpaid taxes, a situation that he attempted, and did not succeed, to keep confidential.

There have been numerous turns in his story, indeed, that it's easy to forget that absent his tremendous, once-in-a-generation skill, there would be no story at all.

Early Talent and Instincts

It was clear from the start as a teenage apprentice that he had an instinctive rapport with the horses whenever Dettori was on board.

Horses ran for him, and got better under him. Back in 1990, he was the first teenager since Piggott to reach 100 winners in a season, and also marked his arrival among the elite with two Group One wins at Ascot, on the same card that he would charge without a loss only six years later. The famous flying dismount, adopted from the US legend Angel Cordero Jr, was incorporated into Dettori’s repertoire in 1994, and the buzz from winning major races has never left him. Nor has the gift of knowing, with something akin to clairvoyance, where to position, 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 won't be simple to finally let go, whether or not Dettori pursues his expressed wish to take “a few rides in South America, which is something I’ve always wanted to experience”. It is not, after all, a goal that he has mentioned until now.

However, the disastrous choice to follow tax guidance that led to his dispute with HMRC indicates that Dettori will not draw down the curtain with sufficient funds saved up to relax and take things easy.

Fresh Ventures

He has already been confirmed in a new role as a “global ambassador” with the soccer agent Kia Joorabchian's burgeoning Amo Racing enterprise. He explained to racing presenter Matt Chapman on Friday this was the primary reason for his departure now, along with the chance to conclude at the Breeders’ Cup. “These opportunities are rare, very often. I appreciate the structure – it's a youthful team with huge goals,” said the rider.

Joorabchian, himself, was effusive in his compliments for his new ambassador at Del Mar on Thursday. “He’s an icon, a genuine legend in the sport,” he stated. “When discussing elite athletes such as LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Messis and Pelé and similar figures, Frankie is that for horse racing. When you go into Royal Ascot, you see a statue there, you know that he has influenced on so many lives across the world.

“He’s not here|“He isn't here} to entertain people, he’s here to actually work and he will be working with us very closely. He will participate in all aspects of our business 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 often showed a more somber aspect of his personality, beneath the cheerful public image. In both programs, he was an early exit due to viewer votes.

It may be that Dettori himself is unsure what he will do and how he will fill his time once his riding career 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 dazzling events in the calendar.

The Final Ride

A five-year-old mare named Argine will be his last top-level ride in the Breeders’ Cup Mile, the same race in which he registered his initial Breeders’ Cup win in 1994. Her form at home indicates that she has something to improve to compete, yet few jockeys in history have ever risen to an occasion like Frankie Dettori.

For one final time, cue Frankie?