Gianfranco Dettori
One of Italy’s greatest jockeys, Gianfranco Dettori was born in Sardinia on April 25, 1941, the son of a builder. He was apprenticed to Vittorio San Marzano in Rome.
One of Italy’s greatest jockeys, Gianfranco Dettori was born in Sardinia on April 25, 1941, the son of a builder. He was apprenticed to Vittorio San Marzano in Rome.
As Brough Scott relates in his 2013 biography of Henry Cecil, “Gianfranco has got into racing by the unlikely route of running away from mixing cement for his builder father in Sardinia to wash dishes in Rome. Mucking out trotters at the local racecourse offered better money than washing dishes, and he then climbed onboard a supposedly unrideable horse and found such a tune that he was put in a race and duly won, to much amazement.”
As Brough Scott relates in his 2013 biography of Henry Cecil, “Gianfranco has got into racing by the unlikely route of running away from mixing cement for his builder father in Sardinia to wash dishes in Rome. Mucking out trotters at the local racecourse offered better money than washing dishes, and he then climbed onboard a supposedly unrideable horse and found such a tune that he was put in a race and duly won, to much amazement.”
During his career, he champion jockey in Italy thirteen times and twice won the Italian Derby.
During his career, he champion jockey in Italy thirteen times and twice won the Italian Derby.
In 1975 he began riding for Henry Cecil and won the 2,000 Guineas two years running on Bolkonski (1975) and Wollow (1976). Those two horses also gave him back-to-back wins in the Sussex Stakes. Wollow also won the Dewhurst, Greenham, Eclipse Stakes and Benson & Hedges Gold Cup, while Bolkonski added the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot. Gianfranco rode Wollow in the 1976 Derby, for which he was sent off the hot 11-10 favourite, but was hampered during running and could only finish fifth behind Empery.
In 1975 he began riding for Henry Cecil and won the 2,000 Guineas two years running on Bolkonski (1975) and Wollow (1976). Those two horses also gave him back-to-back wins in the Sussex Stakes. Wollow also won the Dewhurst, Greenham, Eclipse Stakes and Benson & Hedges Gold Cup, while Bolkonski added the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot. Gianfranco rode Wollow in the 1976 Derby, for which he was sent off the hot 11-10 favourite, but was hampered during running and could only finish fifth behind Empery.
He is the father of Frankie Dettori.
He is the father of Frankie Dettori.
Gianfranco Dettori’s major winners in Britain and Ireland were:
Gianfranco Dettori’s major winners in Britain and Ireland were:
2,000 Guineas: Bolkonski (1975), Wollow (1976)
2,000 Guineas: Bolkonski (1975), Wollow (1976)
Sussex Stakes: Bolkonski (1975), Wollow (1976)
Sussex Stakes: Bolkonski (1975), Wollow (1976)
Eclipse Stakes: Wollow (1976)
Eclipse Stakes: Wollow (1976)
Benson& Hedges Gold Cup: Wollow (1976)
Benson& Hedges Gold Cup: Wollow (1976)
Queen Anne Stakes: Imperial March (1975)
Queen Anne Stakes: Imperial March (1975)
St James’s Palace Stakes: Bolkonski (1975)
St James’s Palace Stakes: Bolkonski (1975)
Champagne Stakes: Wollow (1975)
Champagne Stakes: Wollow (1975)
Dewhurst Stakes: Wollow (1975)
Dewhurst Stakes: Wollow (1975)
Observer Gold Cup: Take Your Place (1975)
Observer Gold Cup: Take Your Place (1975)
Greenham Stakes: Wollow (1976)
Greenham Stakes: Wollow (1976)
Nell Gwyn Stakes: Freeze The Secret (1977)
Nell Gwyn Stakes: Freeze The Secret (1977)
Irish 2,000 Guineas: Pampapaul (1977)
Irish 2,000 Guineas: Pampapaul (1977)