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It has been an exhilarating, magnificent and at times bumpy ride, yet now, it appears Frankie Dettori's mind is made up. The most storied jockey of the past 40 years is set to 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 his almost 300 on his record already. Racing may not see a career like his ever again.

An Iconic Figure

Together with Lester Piggott and perhaps John McCririck over the past half-century, Frankie Dettori is recognized by almost everybody, without needing a last name. People know who he is, even if they have no interest at all in his profession. In a world that has been divided by social media and online networks, Dettori could be the final equestrian personality who will ever enjoy such instant brand recognition across a broad swathe of the British population.

His entire career in the sport, after all, dates back to a time when the show A Question Of Sport regularly pulled in over 10 million viewers, and a three-year stint as a team leader was more than enough to establish him as the lively, irrepressible face of the sport. His last year on the show came in 2004, which was also the time when he secured the top jockey award for the third and last occasion. As far as many in the UK, though, he has probably been the champion for many seasons since.

A Hard-Earned Fame

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

In June 2000, he was rescued from a fiery crash of a small plane by his fellow rider, Ray Cochrane, after a crash on takeoff where the pilot lost his life. When he finally ended his quest for a Derby winner in 2007, that also became headline news.

And if everyone loves a winner, they often love an imperfect hero and a comeback all the more. A six-month ban following a positive drug test for cocaine would 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 trainer John Gosden in Newmarket, and a new series of winners and Classic winners, including Enable, Golden Horn and Stradivarius.

Ups and Downs

The celebrated successes and lows were an essential part of Dettori’s story, right up until the embarrassing confession this past March that he was filing for bankruptcy after a prolonged dispute with tax authorities over unpaid taxes, a situation that he attempted, and did not succeed, to keep private.

There were so many twists in his story, indeed, that it's easy to overlook that without his tremendous, generational talent, there would have been no story at all.

Early Talent and Instincts

It was evident from the start as a teenage apprentice that there was an instinctive rapport between horse and rider when 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 emergence among the elite with a Group One double at Ascot, on the same card that he would charge through unbeaten just six years later. The famous flying dismount, adopted from the American legend Angel Cordero Jr, was incorporated into his routine in 1994, and the buzz from winning major races has never left him. Nor has the gift of knowing, with almost clairvoyance, where to position, when to make a move and where openings will appear.

The Future Ahead

But what next for the public face of UK horse racing? It will not be easy to finally let go, regardless if Dettori pursues his apparent desire to take “a few rides in South America, which is something I’ve always wanted to do”. It is not, in fact, an ambition that he had mentioned until now.

However, the disastrous choice to follow tax guidance that resulted in his dispute with HMRC means that Dettori will not draw down the curtain with enough money in the bank to kick back and take things easy.

Fresh Ventures

He has been confirmed in a new role as an international ambassador with the soccer agent Kia Joorabchian's growing Amo Racing operation. Dettori told racing presenter Matt Chapman last Friday this was the primary reason for his departure now, along with the chance to conclude at the Breeders’ Cup. “Such chances don’t come along, frequently. I like the set-up – it's a youthful team with huge goals,” explained the jockey.

Joorabchian personally, was effusive in his compliments for his new ambassador at Del Mar on Thursday. “He is an icon, he is a true legend of the sport,” Joorabchian said. “When you talk about elite athletes like LeBron James, Currys, Messis and Pelés and similar figures, Frankie is 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 amuse audiences, he's here to work and he will be working with us very closely. He will be involved in all aspects of our operations though he won't serve as a racing manager. He is a global ambassador.”

Reality TV is another possibility, though previous appearances on Celebrity Big Brother and I'm A Celebrity have tended to reveal a moodier side of his personality, beneath the cheerful public persona. In both programs, he was an early exit of the public vote.

It may be that Dettori himself is unsure what he will do and how to spend his time after his race-riding days ends. And for another 24 hours at least, he stays a top-level professional jockey, focused on three mounts at one of the globe's prestigious and glamorous events on the schedule.

One Last Mount

A five-year-old mare 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 in 1994. Her form at home indicates that she needs to find to figure, but few riders in history have ever excelled in big moments like Lanfranco Dettori.

One last time, is it time for Frankie?