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It has been an exhilarating, glorious and at times rocky path, yet now, it appears Frankie Dettori's decision is final. The most celebrated jockey over the last 40 years is set to enter retirement following the primary events during the Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar on Saturday, where he has three opportunities to secure one last Grade One winner to his almost 300 already in his record. Racing may not see a career quite like it again.

A Household Name

Alongside racing great Lester Piggott and maybe John McCririck in the last half-century, Frankie Dettori is recognized by pretty much everyone, without needing a last name. People know his identity, even if they possess absolutely no interest in what he does. In today's world which has become divided by social media and online networks, Dettori could be the last racing figure who will ever experience such immediate brand recognition among a wide segment of the British population.

Dettori’s lifetime in horse racing, in fact, goes back to an era when the show A Question Of Sport regularly pulled in over 10 million viewers, and his three-year role as a team leader was sufficient to cement him as the lively, unforgettable figure of the sport. His final year on the program was 2004, that was also the year when he secured the top jockey award for a third and last occasion. For many in the UK, though, he has probably been the champion in most years after that.

A Hard-Earned Fame

This is, in many respects, a hard-earned fame, a double-edged reward for events on and off the racecourse which have often propelled Dettori onto the front pages, since that memorable day at Ascot in 1996 when he overcame massive 25,000-1 odds to ride all seven winners that day.

In June 2000, he was pulled from the burning wreckage of a light aircraft by fellow jockey, Ray Cochrane, following an accident on takeoff where the pilot was killed. When he finally concluded his pursuit for a Derby victory in 2007, that too was headline news.

And if everyone loves a champion, they frequently adore an imperfect hero and a return even more. A six-month ban following a positive drug test for cocaine would have been the finish for most jockeys in their 40s, more than enough time for trainers and owners to find a younger alternative. For Dettori, though, suspension in December 2012 served as a bridge to a renewed association with trainer John Gosden in Newmarket, and a new series of champions and Classic winners, including Enable, Golden Horn and Stradivarius.

Public Highs and Lows

The public highs and lows were a crucial element of his narrative, right up until the embarrassing confession in March that he filed for bankruptcy after a prolonged dispute with HMRC over unpaid taxes, a circumstance that he attempted, and failed, to keep confidential.

There were so many twists in his story, in fact, that it can be easy to forget that without Dettori’s immense, once-in-a-generation skill, there would be no narrative whatsoever.

Early Talent and Instincts

It was evident from the start as a teenage apprentice that he had an instinctive rapport with the horses whenever Dettori was in the saddle.

Horses ran for him, and improved for him. In 1990, he was the first teenager since Lester Piggott to achieve 100 wins in a season, and also announced his arrival at the highest level with a Group One double at Ascot, on the same card that he would charge without a loss only six years later. His iconic flying dismount, copied from the US legend Angel Cordero Jr, was added to his routine in 1994, and the buzz from riding a big-race winner has always stayed with him. Nor has the gift of sensing, with almost foresight, where to sit, when to make a move and where the gaps will emerge.

The Future Ahead

But what now for the public face of British racing? It won't be simple to finally let go, regardless if Dettori pursues his apparent desire to accept some mounts in South America, something that he always wanted to experience”. It is not, in fact, an ambition that he has mentioned until now.

But the calamitous decision to follow tax guidance that resulted in his tax issues means that Dettori will not end his career with enough money saved up to kick back and take things easy.

Fresh Ventures

He has been appointed to a new position as an international ambassador with the football super-agent Kia Joorabchian's burgeoning Amo Racing enterprise. He explained to Matt Chapman on At The Races last Friday this was the primary reason for his departure now, along with the chance to finish at the Breeders’ Cup. “These opportunities don’t come along, frequently. I like the set-up – it's a youthful team with huge goals,” said the rider.

Joorabchian personally, was effusive in his compliments for his new recruit at Del Mar on Thursday. “He is an icon, a genuine legend of the sport,” he stated. “When discussing elite athletes such as LeBron James, Currys, Messis and Pelé and similar figures, Frankie represents that to horse racing. When you go into Royal Ascot, you notice a statue, you realize that he’s made a big impact countless lives worldwide.

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

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

It's possible that Dettori himself is unsure what he will do and how he will fill his time once his race-riding days are over. And for another 24 hours at least, he remains a top-level professional jockey, concentrating on three rides at one of the most prestigious and glamorous events in the calendar.

The Final Ride

A five-year-old mare named Argine will be his final Grade One mount in the Breeders’ Cup Mile, the identical event where he achieved his first Breeders’ Cup success back in 1994. Her form at home indicates that she needs to find to figure, but few riders historically have excelled in big moments like Frankie Dettori.

For one final time, is it time for Frankie?