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The journey has been a thrilling, glorious and at times bumpy ride, yet now, it seems the famed jockey's decision is final. The most celebrated rider of the past 40 years is set to enter retirement following the primary events during the Breeders’ Cup in Del Mar on Saturday, where he has three chances to secure one last top-tier victory to nearly 300 already in his record. Racing may not see a career quite like it again.

A Household Name

Together with racing great Lester Piggott and maybe John McCririck in the last 50 years, “Frankie” registers with pretty much everyone, no surname required. The public knows his identity, even if they have absolutely no interest in his profession. In a world which has become divided by digital platforms and online networks, Dettori could 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 the sport, in fact, goes back to an era when A Question Of Sport regularly pulled in over 10 million viewers, and his three-year role as a team leader was more than enough to cement him as the bubbly, unforgettable figure of the sport. His last year on the show was 2004, that 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 probably been the champion for many seasons after that.

A Hard-Won Celebrity

It is, in many ways, a hard-won celebrity, a mixed blessing for incidents on and off the racecourse that have repeatedly pushed Dettori onto the front pages, since the unforgettable afternoon at Ascot in 1996 when he defied odds of 25,000-1 to ride all seven winners that day.

Back in June 2000, he was rescued from the burning wreckage of a light aircraft by his fellow rider, Ray Cochrane, after a crash during takeoff in which the plane’s pilot was killed. When at last concluded his pursuit for a Derby winner in 2007, that too was headline news.

While everyone admires 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 many riders in their 40s, plenty of time for owners and trainers to seek a younger replacement. For Dettori, though, suspension in December 2012 was a bridge to a revived partnership with John Gosden at Newmarket, and a new series of champions and classic victors, including Enable, Golden Horn and Stradivarius.

Ups and Downs

The celebrated successes and setbacks were a crucial element of his narrative, right up until the embarrassing confession in March that he was filing for bankruptcy following a long-standing disagreement with tax authorities over unpaid taxes, a situation that Dettori tried, and failed, to keep private.

There were so many twists to the tale, in fact, that it's easy to forget that without his tremendous, generational talent, there would be no story at all.

Natural Ability

It was clear from the start as a teenage apprentice that there was a natural connection with the horses whenever 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 reach 100 winners in a season, and also announced his emergence at the highest level with a Group One double at Ascot, on the same day that he would charge without a loss only six years later. His iconic flying dismount, copied from the American legend Angel Cordero Jr, was incorporated into Dettori’s repertoire 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 sit, when to strike and where openings will appear.

What Comes Next?

But what next for the recognizable figure of UK horse racing? It won't be simple to finally let go, regardless if Dettori pursues his apparent desire to take “a few rides in South America, something that he always wanted to do”. This is not, after all, a goal that he had mentioned previously.

However, the disastrous choice to accept the tax advice that led to his dispute with HMRC indicates 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 been appointed to a new position 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 main reason for his exit now, along with the chance to conclude 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 ambassador on Thursday at Del Mar. “He is an icon, he is a true legend of the sport,” Joorabchian said. “When discussing elite athletes such as LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Messis and Pelés and similar figures, Frankie is that for horse racing. When visiting Royal Ascot, you notice a statue, you realize that he has influenced countless lives worldwide.

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

Reality TV are another option, though previous appearances on Big Brother and I'm A Celebrity often showed a moodier side to Dettori’s character, behind the ebullient public image. On both shows, he was an early exit of the public vote.

It's possible that Dettori himself is unsure what he'll do and how to spend his time once his race-riding days ends. And for another one more day, he stays an elite professional jockey, focused on three rides at one of the globe's prestigious and glamorous events on the schedule.

One Last Mount

A five-year-old filly called Argine will be his final Grade One mount in the Breeders’ Cup Mile, the identical event in which he registered his initial Breeders’ Cup win back in 1994. Her form at home in Japan suggests that she has something to improve to compete, yet few jockeys historically have excelled in big moments like Lanfranco Dettori.

One last time, is it time for Frankie?