SOME trophies won by Frankie Dettori at the Curragh and Leopardstown are among 126 items being sold online this month by the world-famous jockey.
The 52-year-old rider, who is retiring from the saddle later this year, is moving out of Newmarket and is clearing out a selection of trophies, books, photographs, silks and other items he has discovered in cupboards and wardrobes at his home.
He has listed the items with auctioneers Cheffins who say this is a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to own prizes and memorabilia from one of the greatest sports personalities worldwide”. Bidding closes on July 18th.
Among the lots on offer is Dettori’s trophy from last month’s Oaks win aboard Soul Sister. There are trophies listed from almost every country in the world, including some he received after winning various editions of the Irish Champion Stakes and that famous 2016 Irish St Leger win on Wicklow Brave.
Scaling down
Dettori said: “We’re scaling down and I’ve got so much stuff, we thought we might as well just auction it. I didn’t realise because they end up in drawers, in cupboards, in the cellar, I mean they’re all over the place.
“Now we’re clearing up a lot of stuff, we didn’t realise how much accumulated in so many years. I tried to keep things that means something to me, some of the important stuff like the Derby and things like that, but the rest is going to go up in auction.”
He continued: “All my kids have branched out, so it’s only myself and [wife] Catherine left. We’re planning to rent the house, scale down and move towards London a bit. And I’d like to travel the world a bit.”
He said some of the proceeds of the auction will go to the charity Direct Aid For Africa (DAFA), and some will go to his children, adding: “My daughter’s getting married next year but she hasn’t fixed a date yet.”
He said that in his retirement he is not going to be too far away from racing. “Working on TV is an option,” he said. “I’m in talks at the moment with a few different channels and I think that’s the way that I’m going to head.”
Web: cheffins.com