Horse racing legend Frankie Dettori rushed to hospital after car ‘spins and flips’ in crash

Horse racing legend Frankie Dettori has been taken to hospital after being involved in a car accident.

The 55-year-old suffered several broken ribs and a broken thumb after another vehicle struck the rear passenger side of a car he was driving in Newmarket on Wednesday night, causing it to flip and spin. 

Frankie’s representatives, H Talent Management, said the Italian jockey’s injuries were still being assessed as he remained in hospital for further scans and observation after the crash caused his car to flip and spin. 

A statement from Frankie’s representatives 

In a statement, they said: “H Talent Management can confirm that Frankie Dettori was involved in a road traffic accident in Newmarket on the evening of Wednesday, 1 July.

“Another vehicle struck the rear passenger side of the car Frankie was driving, causing it to spin and flip.

© Tom Dulat/Getty Images for Ascot Racecourse

“Frankie was taken to hospital, where he was found to have sustained several broken ribs and a broken thumb. His injuries are still being assessed, and he remains in hospital for further scans and observation.

“Frankie would like to thank the emergency services who attended the scene, together with the doctors, nurses and wider medical team caring for him.

“His focus is now on resting and recovering.”

Frankie’s long-standing horse riding career

Frankie, who hails from Milan in Italy, has a career spanning 40 years in the horse racing world and is a three-time British flat racing champion. 

One of his biggest achievements was riding all seven winners on British Festival of Racing Day at Ascot Racecourse in September 1996.

© Joel Anderson

Frankie has not competed in Britain since he won the Champion Stakes on King Of Steel at Ascot in October 2023. He was due to return to riding in the Leger Legends race at Doncaster during the St Leger Festival in September.

Away from horse riding, Frankie has made various television appearances, including on the 11th series of Celebrity Big Brother and the 23rd series of I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!. He spent 12 days in the camp before becoming the first contestant to be eliminated.