Popular Italian taken to hospital after fall.
Legendary jockey Frankie Dettori suffered a dislocated shoulder Thursday when Pretty Liza, a filly trained by Rudy Rodriguez, unseated him while loaded at the starting stalls in the ninth race at Aqueduct. He was whisked away immediately to Jamaica Hospital for treatment, and there, doctors confirmed that his right shoulder was dislocated. The next morning, Dettori went on social media to proclaim an update from the hospital, assuring all his fans and well-wishers that he was on the mend. Posting on X, formerly Twitter, he thanked all for the messages: "I appreciate all the messages. I'm doing OK! I dislocated my right shoulder—my team here in the hospital has put it back together." The injury is certainly a blow, but Dettori's tone was upbeat, reflecting his trademark resilience and optimism as he looks to recover quickly.
It was the ninth race, almost ready to start. When Pretty Liza got into the starting stalls, she appeared troubled and threw Dettori off before the race could even start. Medical personnel at the aqueduct were fast in response to the shock of the fall, which gave them time to attend to the jockey at maximum speed. It was a precautionary trip to Jamaica Hospital, but the dislocation had to be addressed prior. The injury comes at bad times for Dettori, as he was making great waves on the US racing scene following his dramatic turn of events to reverse his decision to retire late last year. That dramatic turnaround where Dettori had initially signaled that 2023 would mark his last year as a professional jockey. However, after much contemplation about his career and future, he took the step of continuing to ride, targeting America, where he had been proving his world-class talent.
I appreciate all the messages. I'm doing OK! I dislocated my right shoulder – my team here in the hospital have put it back together.
Thanks for the messages of concern, it means a lot 🙏 pic.twitter.com/ljaDkoqHwz
— Frankie Dettori (@FrankieDettori) September 20, 2024
A man of the record outstandingly successful, Dettori has won almost all the significant races around the globe, making him one of the most iconic names in horse racing. His decision to extend his career and race in the U.S. has brought excitement among fans and industry insiders as they see him taking on new challenges across the Atlantic. This move by the veteran jockey towards the American circuit raises much debate about forming this new chapter in the wide scope of ability to continue high performance, even if it is a limited age factor.
That incident on Thursday was unlucky and quite unexpected; however, anyone knowing Dettori would also know his tremendous will to fight and passion for racing which cannot be rivalled. The jockey would surely need time to regain the shoulder, but undoubtedly, his decision to return to the track is quite clear. For how long Dettori would miss the track, only time could tell, but millions of fans for that jockey would await his return with bated breath.
For now, though, it is healthy and getting back to his feet. A shoulder dislocation is a dangerous affair, but, fortunately, it can also be treated pretty well with the right rehabilitation program. His medical team at Jamaica Hospital moved swiftly to get the damage done to the joint sorted out. In the following days, Dettori would probably be rung through a few more assessments to determine the level of injury and what would have to be done to get him healed. Fans will be hoping that his time away from the saddle will be brief, as the sport is not the same without him.
This fresh incident reminds me of one of the risks faced each time they remount a horse. Unpredictable accidents can recur even for someone as experienced and skilled as Dettori in the unique stress of competition racing. Still, the risks never dampened Dettori's passion for the sport, and his willingness to continue after so many years is a testament to his love for horse racing. Indeed, even as the racing fraternity waits for more news of his recovery, there is little doubt that Frankie Dettori will be back to action with the same verve and elan that marked out his glamorous career. His journey in the United States is far from over, with this injury just one challenge to be crossed amongst many triumphs and trials that have made him a living legend in horse racing.
