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The journey has been an exhilarating, glorious and at times rocky path, but this time, it appears Frankie Dettori's decision is final. The most celebrated rider over the last 40 years is set to enter retirement after the main card during the Breeders’ Cup in Del Mar on Saturday, when he will have three chances to secure one last Grade One winner to nearly 300 already in his record. The sport might not witness 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 is recognized by almost everybody, without needing a last name. People know his identity, even if they possess absolutely no interest in his profession. In a world which has become fragmented by digital platforms and online networks, Dettori may well be the final equestrian personality who will ever enjoy such instant name-recognition among a wide segment of Britain's people.

His entire career in horse racing, after all, dates back to an era when A Question Of Sport regularly pulled in more than 10 million audience members, and his three-year role as a team leader was more than enough to establish him as the bubbly, irrepressible face of racing. His final year on the show was 2004, that was also the time when he secured the top jockey award for the third and final time. As far as many in the UK, though, he has probably been the top jockey in most years after that.

A Hard-Won Celebrity

It is, in many ways, a hard-earned fame, a double-edged reward for events both on and off the track which have often propelled Dettori into the headlines, since the unforgettable afternoon at Ascot in 1996 when he defied odds of 25,000-1 to ride all seven winners on the card.

Back in June 2000, he was pulled from the burning wreckage of a small plane by fellow jockey, Ray Cochrane, after a crash on takeoff in which the plane’s pilot lost his life. When he finally concluded his pursuit for a Derby victory in 2007, that too was headline news.

While everyone admires a champion, they frequently adore a flawed hero and a comeback even more. A half-year suspension following a positive drug test for cocaine would have been the finish for many riders in their forties, plenty of time for trainers and owners to seek a younger replacement. For Dettori, however, suspension in December 2012 was a bridge to a renewed association with trainer John Gosden at Newmarket, and a new series of winners and Classic winners, such as Enable, Golden Horn and Stradivarius.

Ups and Downs

The celebrated successes and setbacks have been a crucial element of his narrative, right up until the embarrassing confession this past March that he was filing for bankruptcy after a prolonged dispute with HMRC regarding unpaid taxes, a situation that Dettori tried, and did not succeed, to keep confidential.

There were so many twists to the tale, in fact, that it can be easy to forget that absent his tremendous, once-in-a-generation skill, there would be no story at all.

Natural Ability

It was evident from the start as a teenage apprentice that he had an instinctive rapport between horse and rider whenever Dettori was in the saddle.

Steeds performed for him, and improved for him. Back in 1990, he was the first teenager since Piggott to achieve 100 wins in one season, and also marked his emergence at the highest level with two Group One wins at Ascot, on the same day that he would dominate through unbeaten just six years later. His iconic flying dismount, copied from the US legend Angel Cordero Jr, was incorporated into Dettori’s repertoire in 1994, and the thrill from riding a big-race winner has never left him. Neither has the talent of knowing, with something akin to foresight, where to position, when to make a move and where the gaps will appear.

What Comes Next?

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

However, the disastrous choice to accept the tax advice that led to his dispute with HMRC indicates that Dettori will not end his career with enough money saved up to relax and take things easy.

Fresh Ventures

He has been confirmed in a new role as a “global ambassador” with the soccer agent Kia Joorabchian’s burgeoning Amo Racing operation. He explained to Matt Chapman on At The Races last Friday this was the main reason for his exit now, as well as being able to finish at the Breeders’ Cup. “These opportunities are rare, frequently. I appreciate the structure – this is a young team with huge goals,” said the rider.

Joorabchian personally, was gushing in his praise for his new recruit on Thursday at Del Mar. “He is an icon, he is a true legend in the sport,” Joorabchian said. “When you talk about elite athletes such as LeBron James, Currys, Messis and Pelés and similar figures, Frankie represents that for horse racing. When visiting 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 entertain people, he's here to work and he will be collaborate with us very closely. He will be involved in every area of our operations [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 of his personality, behind the ebullient public persona. In both programs, he was an early exit due to viewer votes.

It's possible that Dettori himself is unsure what he will do and how to spend his time after his race-riding days are over. And for at least one more day, he remains an elite professional jockey, focused on three mounts at one of the globe's prestigious and dazzling events in the calendar.

One Last Mount

A five-year-old filly called Argine will be Dettori’s last top-level ride in the Breeders’ Cup Mile, the identical event where he achieved his initial Breeders’ Cup win back in 1994. Her form at home indicates that she has something to improve to compete, but few riders historically have excelled in big moments like Frankie Dettori.

One last time, cue Frankie?