Dettori to ride Country Grammer in San Antonio Stakes as final racing year begins

Jockey Frankie Dettori surprised racing on Saturday with an announcement that 2023 will be the final year of an illustrious career that has made him the world’s most recognizable rider.

Dettori told the British press that he plans to ride throughout the world next year before retiring in the autumn. The first stop on that tour is the Santa Anita winter-spring meeting, where Dettori is expected to be based in the early months of the year.

A three-time champion jockey in Britain, Dettori, 52, has won 14 Breeders’ Cup races from 1999 to 2018. He announced his plans to ride at Santa Anita earlier this year.

Dettori has chances for major stakes wins on the opening day of the season on Dec. 26. Dettori is booked to ride Country Grammer in the Grade 2 San Antonio Stakes at 1 1/16 miles, a 5-year-old he knows well.

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Last March, Dettori rode Country Grammer to a win in the $12 million Dubai World Cup at Meydan Racecourse in the United Arab Emirates.

Trained by Bob Baffert, Country Grammer has not raced since a second in the Grade 1 Awesome Again Stakes at Santa Anita on Oct. 1.

Dettori is also scheduled to ride Spirit and Glory in the Grade 1 American Oaks for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/4 miles on turf for trainer Robert Falcone Jr., according to Dettori’s agent, Ron Anderson.

Spirit and Glory won the Virginia Oaks at Colonial Downs in September and was fourth to American Oaks contender Salimah in the Winter Memories Stakes at Aqueduct on Nov. 13.

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