Newmarket’s racing ambassador, jockey Frankie Dettori, is this week celebrating living in Newmarket for 30 years.
It was in July 1985 that, as a teenager and speaking little English, he arrived to work for local trainer Luca Cumani.
Frankie said: “Newmarket, the racecourses and the town, mean a lot to me and I love them. I have lived here for 30 years, ever since I was a young teenager. That’s a long time!
“2015 has turned out to be a milestone for me in my 30th year of living and riding in Newmarket. I won my second Derby and it’s been a great year and that looks set to continue.”
On Saturday, on Derby winner Golden Horn, Dettori produced a sparkling ride to win the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown.
The popular Italian loves the bagpipes and to mark his anniversary, at the start of the Festival today, the jockeys will be led from the weighing room to the parade ring by a piper.
“Frankie loves Newmarket and everyone loves Frankie. We want to mark his 30 years in the town and I’m sure the crowds will give him a warm welcome,” said Amy Starkey, Director of Jockey Club Racecourses East Region.
Frankie was born in Milan, and his father was a jockey and his mother a circus performer.
He left school at the age of 14 to become a stable hand, arriving in England at 15 to work as an apprentice jockey.
He has five children, Leo, Ella, Mia, Tallulah and Rocco and a number of pets including dogs, cats and ponies. He loves to cook and his speciality is sea bass. His favourite drink is a good Italian red or white wine and he likes to spend time in the wine cellar at Lord Lloyd-Webber’s house.
Frankie’s favourite childhood memory is of his first pony, a palomino, which was bought for him by his dad when he was 12.
He supports Arsenal football club and loves most sports but particularly enjoys playing golf with Lee Westwood.
Frankie is a fan of house music and Ronan Keating.
His proudest moments so far have been having his five children, marrying his wife and winning the seven races at Ascot in 1996.
He survived a plane crash in 2000 when flying from Newmarket to Goodwood. Frankie was awarded an MBE in 2001. His first British winner came in 1986 at Goodwood.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here