Frankie Dettori’s rollercoaster life: From cocaine ban and bulimia struggle to plane crash survival as legendary jockey faces jail risk

Frankie Dettori’s life has never been quiet. The famous Italian jockey, who won more than 3,300 races in a career that lasted over three decades, has seen huge success on the track.

But away from horse racing, his life has often been full of trouble, fear, and personal struggles. In March 2026, Frankie Dettori rode his last race in Brazil and won the Grande Premio Estado do Rio De Janeiro on the horse Bet You Can. The victory ended a remarkable 35 year career. But at the same time, a serious legal issue is hanging over him. The 55 year old was declared bankrupt in the United Kingdom after a long dispute with HM Revenue and Customs over taxes.

According to court records, Dettori owed about £765,000 in tax along with other debts. The total bill reached nearly £888,799 including legal costs.At a London insolvency court hearing, Judge Nicholas Briggs said there had been a “blatant failure” by Dettori to provide full information about his assets. Trustees later said some properties in France and Italy had not been disclosed. The judge warned that criminal sanctions could be used if problems continue.

For a man who became one of horse racing’s biggest stars, it is another dramatic chapter in a life already filled with shocking moments.

Frankie Dettori’s cocaine ban, bulimia struggle and near death plane crash shaped the legendary jockey’s turbulent life

Frankie Dettori’s troubles away from racing first became public many years ago. In September 2012, he was banned from racing after testing positive for cocaine at Longchamp racecourse in Paris. Speaking later about that period, Dettori admitted how difficult it was for his family.He said, “I am very ashamed and embarrassed, and I paid a very big price for it. I spent six months not doing the thing that I love, racing. The embarrassment of telling the children was very, very difficult.”Dettori also admitted that earlier in his career he struggled badly with his weight and mental health. His wife Catherine Dettori revealed in 2001 that the jockey was battling bulimia and depression. She said, “We saw the darkness.

Anxiety, depression and his weight was really bad. He would eat too much, then make himself sick. It was bulimia, a really frightening time.”Dettori himself later explained the pain he went through.He said, “It was self harming. I went through it badly. You feel ashamed and scared. You have heart palpitations and anxiety.”One of the most terrifying moments of his life came in the year 2000 when he survived a plane crash near Newmarket in England.

The crash killed pilot Patrick Mackey. Dettori and fellow jockey Ray Cochrane managed to escape from the wreckage. Ray Cochrane later told The Sun what happened during the crash.He said, “Frankie was covered in blood, couldn’t see and was screaming his leg was broken. I dragged him out through the luggage door while the engine was on fire.”Dettori later wrote in his memoir that he truly believed he was about to die during the crash. Despite those frightening moments, he returned to racing and built one of the greatest careers the sport has ever seen. His most famous day came at Ascot in 1996 when he won all seven races on the card, a historic achievement known as “The Magnificent Seven.”Even after many personal setbacks, Frankie Dettori remained one of the most recognizable figures in horse racing until his final victory in Brazil earlier this year.