Frankie Dettori, among the most successful and recognizable figures in the history of horse racing, was recovering in hospital on Thursday after a car crash the previous evening left him with several broken ribs and a broken thumb.
What happened
The crash took place on Wednesday evening on a road near Newmarket, the eastern English town at the heart of British flat racing. According to the Associated Press, another vehicle struck the rear of the car Dettori was in, sending it spinning and flipping over.
The 55-year-old was taken to hospital, where his injuries were assessed as several broken ribs and a broken thumb, Sky Sports reported. In a message posted to social media, Dettori said he was "very sore" and thanked the emergency workers and medical staff who had cared for him. Reports said both drivers were taken to hospital as a precaution, with no indication of serious injury to the other motorist.
A racing great
Dettori's fame extends well beyond the racing world. Italian-born and long based in Britain, he is best known for a single extraordinary afternoon at Ascot in September 1996, when he rode the winners of all seven races on the card — a run so improbable that it became known as the "Magnificent Seven" and cost bookmakers dearly.
Over a career spanning more than three decades he won the British flat racing champion jockey title multiple times and claimed many of the sport's biggest prizes, including a long list of Classic victories. His exuberant flying dismount after big wins made him one of racing's most identifiable personalities, familiar even to people who rarely follow the sport.
What it means
Dettori had stepped back from the height of British racing in recent years and relocated to the United States to continue riding. He had been expected to make an appearance back in Britain later in the year, and the crash casts doubt over his short-term plans as he recovers from the injuries.
For now, the news is simply that a much-loved sporting figure has had a lucky escape from a serious road accident. Rib injuries are painful and slow to heal, particularly for an athlete whose work depends on physical fitness, and any return to the saddle will wait until he has recovered. The messages of support that followed the news were a reminder of the affection in which Dettori is held across the racing world and beyond.
