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The journey has been an exhilarating, glorious and sometimes bumpy ride, but this time, it seems the famed jockey's decision is final. The most storied jockey over the last 40 years will effectively head into retirement following the primary events at the Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar on Saturday, when he will have three chances to add a farewell top-tier victory to nearly 300 already in his record. Racing may not witness a career quite like it again.

A Household Name

Together with racing great Lester Piggott and maybe John McCririck over the past half-century, Frankie Dettori is recognized by pretty much everyone, no surname required. People know his identity, even if they possess no interest at all in what he does. In a world that has been divided by digital platforms and online networks, Dettori may well be the last racing figure that 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 over 10 million audience members, and a three-year stint as a team leader was sufficient to establish him as the bubbly, unforgettable figure of the sport. His last year on the show was 2004, that was also the time when he won the top jockey award for a third and last occasion. As far as many in the UK, though, he has probably been the champion for many seasons 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 that have repeatedly pushed Dettori into the headlines, since that memorable day at Ascot in 1996 when he overcame odds of 25,000-1 to ride all seven winners that day.

Back in June 2000, he was rescued from a fiery crash of a small plane by fellow jockey, Ray Cochrane, following an accident on takeoff in which the plane’s pilot was killed. When he finally concluded his pursuit for a Derby winner in 2007, that also became headline news.

And if everyone loves a champion, they often love a flawed hero and a return even more. A six-month ban 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 find a younger alternative. For Dettori, however, suspension in December 2012 was a bridge to a revived partnership with John Gosden at Newmarket, and a new series of champions and Classic winners, such as Enable, Golden Horn and Stradivarius.

Ups and Downs

The public highs and setbacks were an essential part of Dettori’s story, up to and including the humiliating admission in March that he filed for bankruptcy after a prolonged dispute with tax authorities regarding unpaid taxes, a circumstance that he attempted, and failed, to keep private.

There were numerous turns in his story, indeed, that it's easy to overlook that without Dettori’s immense, generational talent, there would be no story at all.

Early Talent and Instincts

It was evident from the start as a teenage apprentice that there was a natural connection with the horses whenever Dettori was on board.

Steeds performed for him, and improved for him. Back in 1990, he became the first teen since Piggott to reach 100 winners in one season, and also announced 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, copied from the US legend Angel Cordero Jr, was added to 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 strike and where the gaps will emerge.

What Comes Next?

But what next for the recognizable figure of British racing? It won't be simple to step away completely, regardless if Dettori pursues his apparent desire to accept some mounts in South America, which is something I’ve always wanted to experience”. 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 tax issues means that Dettori will not end his career with enough money in the bank to kick back and take it easy.

Fresh Ventures

He has already been appointed to a new position as a “global ambassador” with the soccer agent Kia Joorabchian's burgeoning Amo Racing operation. He explained to racing presenter Matt Chapman last Friday this was the main reason for his departure now, along with the chance to conclude at the Breeders’ Cup. “These opportunities don’t come along, very often. I appreciate the structure – this is a young team with big ambitions,” said the rider.

Joorabchian, himself, was gushing in his praise for his new ambassador on Thursday at Del Mar. “He is an icon, a genuine legend in the sport,” Joorabchian said. “When discussing elite athletes such as LeBron James, Currys, Lionel Messi and Pelé and people like that, Frankie is that for horse racing. When you go into Royal Ascot, you notice a statue, you know that he has influenced countless lives across the world.

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

Television reality shows are another option, though previous appearances on Celebrity Big Brother and I'm A Celebrity have tended to reveal a more somber aspect to Dettori’s character, beneath the cheerful public image. In both programs, he was an early casualty of the public vote.

It's possible that Dettori personally is unsure what he'll do and how to spend his time once his race-riding days ends. And for another 24 hours at least, he remains an elite professional jockey, focused on three rides at one of the globe's prestigious and dazzling events on the schedule.

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 first Breeders’ Cup success back in 1994. Her performance in Japan in Japan suggests that she needs to improve to compete, but few riders historically have risen to an occasion like Frankie Dettori.

One last time, cue Frankie?