Frankie Dettori is 'very sore' after car crash

Jockey Frankie Dettori said he was "very sore" after suffering several broken ribs and a broken thumb in a car crash.

The 55-year-old's management company said he had been involved in a collision on Wednesday evening near Newmarket, Suffolk.

Dettori shared a photo on social media of himself in his hospital bed and said he would be "taking some time to rest and recover".

"A huge thank you... to the fantastic emergency staff who looked after me," he added.

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"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."

He signed off the message "Frankie x".

Dettori has not ridden in Britain since October 2023 when he won the Champion Stakes on King of Steel at Ascot.

But he was due to return to the saddle in the Leger Legends race at Doncaster during the St Leger Festival in September.

His management, H Talent Management, referred to Wednesday's crash as an "accident".

The collision is believed to have happened just over the border in Cambridgeshire. Police confirmed they were called to the A1304 London Road near Six Mile Bottom at about 19:00 BST.

A spokesperson for Cambridgeshire Police said there were no arrests but an investigation was ongoing into traffic-related offences.

The East of England Ambulance Service said two patients were taken to Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, for "further assessment and treatment".

"Frankie would like to thank the emergency services who attended the scene, together with the doctors, nurses and wider medical team caring for him," H Talent Management said.

"His focus is now on resting and recovering. H Talent Management respectfully asks that Frankie's privacy is respected at this time.

"No further comment will be made until there is a meaningful update."

In June 2000, Dettori survived a light aircraft crash in Newmarket which killed pilot Patrick Mackey.

Fellow jockey Ray Cochrane, who went on to be Dettori's agent, also survived the plane crash.

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