Frankie Dettori, one of the most successful and popular figures in British racing, has announced he is filing for bankruptcy after failing to resolve a tax dispute with HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC). In a statement on Thursday, the 54-year-old jockey said he was “saddened and embarrassed” by the outcome.
The dispute dates back to December 2024, when it emerged that Dettori was involved in a scheme to reduce his income tax payments. An injunction preventing his identification was lifted following applications by HMRC and media organisations. At the time, Dettori said he was working with tax officials to “unravel the mess” caused by former advisors, but has now conceded that a solution could not be reached.
“For the last six months, my advisors have been working with HMRC in an attempt to find a solution to my financial situation,” Dettori said. “Regretfully, I will be filing for bankruptcy. I am saddened and embarrassed by this outcome and would advise others to take a stronger rein over their financial matters. Bankruptcy is a major decision and its consequences will affect me for many years.”
Dettori, who rode hundreds of major winners during a 35-year career, has been living and riding in California since the end of 2023. He left the European stage with a win in the Champion Stakes at Ascot aboard King Of Steel. Known for his extraordinary achievement of riding all seven winners on a single card at Ascot in 1996, he also appeared as a team captain on BBC’s Question Of Sport and launched Frankie’s Bar & Grill, a restaurant chain with Marco Pierre White.
