Former champion jockey Frankie Dettori has been discharged from hospital after suffering four broken ribs in a horror road crash that left a borrowed two-seater Smart car flipped onto its roof.
Despite the frightening accident, the legendary rider is determined to be back in the saddle within ten weeks, with September’s Leger Legends race at Doncaster firmly in his sights.
Frankie Dettori Suffered Broken Thumb and Ribs
Dettori, 55, was taken to Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge last week after suffering four fractured ribs and a broken thumb.
The world’s most famous jockey was driving a borrowed Smart car when it was allegedly struck by a Ford Focus, causing the tiny vehicle to overturn onto its roof.
Remarkably, Frankie Dettori managed to force open the door, climb from the wreckage and get himself to safety before sitting at the roadside and calling the emergency services to the scene near his Suffolk home.
The driver of the other car was reported to have escaped without injury.
Dettori Discharged From Hospital
Dettori was discharged from hospital on Friday evening and is now recovering at his mother-in-law’s house.
Thank you, everyone, for your kind messages and support. A huge thank you as well to the fantastic emergency staff who looked after me.
I'm very sore and have a few broken ribs, so I'll be taking some time to rest and recover. I look forward to seeing you all again soon.… pic.twitter.com/OnXGSnXPqT
— Frankie Dettori (@FrankieDettori) July 2, 2026
Frankie Dettori Still Hopeful Of Doncaster Comeback
Frankie Dettori
Although he officially retired from race riding in February, Dettori has agreed to make a one-off return in the Leger Legends race at Doncaster this September.
Now working as a global ambassador for Kia Joorabchian’s Amo Racing operation, he remains determined to honour that commitment.
Speaking to the Racing Post, Dettori said: “We’ve ten weeks before the Leger Legends race, so hopefully I’ll be OK.
“If it was next week I definitely would be out, as I won’t be able to run, never mind get on a horse.
“Time heals everything and hopefully I can still make Doncaster.
“I’m committed to it, I said I would do it and if I can I will.”
The Leger Legends race will be run on Friday, September 11, at Doncaster.
While the race will mark a Dettori comeback, it is expected to be a one-off appearance rather than the start of a return to full-time race riding.
Dettori Was Shopping For Chicken When Crash Happened
Dettori’s wife, Catherine, also revealed that her husband had simply been heading out to buy some chicken when the crash happened.
She said: “We’re just so thankful.
“Frankie’s being looked after and, thankfully, he’s going to be OK.
“We’d borrowed the Smart car from a friend because we’d been back and forth to America and didn’t really have a car ourselves.”
Reflecting on how quickly events unfolded, Catherine added: “Someone once said ‘God laughs at people who make plans’.
“Yesterday Frankie was talking about riding again, and then this happens.
“I’ve never had to see someone sitting at the side of the road after a crash before. It’s awful. You suddenly realise just how serious these things can be.
“He got himself to the side of the road and there were so many lovely neighbours there almost straight away. People were so kind.”
