One of the world’s top jockeys, Frankie Dettori, is to be the official ambassador for Newmarket Racecourses this season.
Dettori, who has been at the top of his profession for more than a quarter of a century, said he “loves Newmarket” and is thrilled with his new ambassadorial role.
Born in Italy, he has lived in Newmarket for more than 30 years and the region’s racecourses have been the stage for one of his renowned victory flying dismounts dozens of times.
He said: “The town is my home and I have wonderful memories of many victories. The Rowley Mile is a brilliant racecourse, a true test of a young thoroughbred, with fantastic and historic racing throughout the spring and the autumn. I can’t wait to get started.”
Amy Starkey, regional director of Jockey Club Racecourses East Region, said: “Frankie Dettori is famous all over the world and we are thrilled that he has agreed to be ambassador for our 2015 racing season.
“Frankie is loved by the racing public and it’s fantastic that he will be officially associated with the ‘Home of Horseracing’.”
Meanwhile, race-goers will converge on Newmarket this week for the start of the new flat racing season, which gets under way tomorrow and Thursday with the Craven Meeting. The highlight of the two-day curtain-raiser on the Rowley Mile will be Thursday afternoon’s Novae Bloodstock Insurance Craven Stakes. With the mercury predicted to rise above 20C, record crowds are expected to attend.
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