Frankie Dettori admits to ‘scary’ time for family and for racing

However, as the British Horseracing Authority explore the possibility of meetings resuming behind closed doors next month, Dettori says the sport must get its “prioirities right”.

The 49-year-old is continuing to ride out for trainer John Gosden and wondering if superstar mare Enable – so sublime when winning last year’s Yorkshire Oaks – will get the chance to attempt to win a record third Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe this autumn.

He’s also spending time with his family and said: “We are trying to keep entertained, and for a couple of days we set up a badminton net in the sitting room and knocked a few furniture down!”

“I’m riding out a bit, three or four times a week and that keeps me a little bit in check, but the prospect of going through this for the next four to six weeks or maybe next few months is quite scary really.

“We are very lucky, we live in Newmarket, we have plenty of fields – there are 3,500 horses in Newmarket, the horses have to go out and be fed and looked after. We are taking every precaution, the two-metre distance with each other, but at least we are out in the fresh air.

“I wouldn’t like to be in a city at the moment, stuck in an apartment and not able to go out. In one respect we are very lucky, but I feel very sorry for the guys who don’t have the freedom we have.”

Dettori also has concerns for his family in Italy, in particular his mother. He said: “My mum had pneumonia 10 years ago, so if she has this virus I don’t think she will pull through, so she has to be really careful. She’s been on shutdown now for the last six weeks, she has to stay at home for the next two to three months. She has to be really careful.

“My dad spends the winter in Morocco. He’s 79, but even if they don’t have many cases in Morocco he’s scared that maybe the health system out there is not maybe as advanced as the one in Europe.

“So he’s a little bit scared. My sister came here for my daughter’s birthday about 40 days ago and has been stuck here ever since.”

On riding out for Gosden, he said: “I work with John and we were all ready to go. Things are carrying on as usual, people’s morale is good. Enable looks great – I see her every morning and she looks great. The frustrating thing is not knowing when we are going to start.

“I’m keeping myself a little bit fit, but even so you can’t see the end of this problem and it’s very hard to keep motivated.

“What makes me tick is the big races, I can’t wait to start. Who knows if we’ll have the Derby this year or if it will be postponed. There’s so many questions. I haven’t got the answer – will we run Royal Ascot behind closed doors?

“It’s difficult times – racing is not that important, it’s important to us but there are people dying out there and we have to get our priorities right.”

Meanwhile, Dettori and National Hunt legend Sir Anthony McCoy are joining forces for a fundraising initiative launched by the team behind Bolesworth and Liverpool International Horse Shows.

‘Equestrian Relief’ will see donations going directly to support the efforts of the work being carried out by the NHS.

Eventing world champions Ros Canter and Zara Tindall, Olympic gold medallists Carl Hester and Scott Brash, plus McCoy and Dettori from the horse racing ranks, have all pledged their support – with the goal to raise £100,000 in 10 days for Covid-19 causes.

Each day two team members will take part in a daily challenge from the five challenges, which are named On the Gallops, Plankety Plank, Horse Drawn, Showstopper and Dark Horse, with organisers hoping to test the skills of riders physically, creatively and artistically.

All challenges will adhere to the latest Government guidelines over Covid-19 and activities will be completed by each team member at home, for example a five-kilometre run on a treadmill.

Dettori said: “It is going to be great fun, however we are all very competitive so I can’t wait to get started – so please make sure you support us!”

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