Leap of Faith: The new autobiography from one of the greatest living jockeys

by Frankie Dettori

‘After all this time Frankie Dettori still ranks amongst the all-time greats of the sport’ LESTER PIGGOTT ‘An autobiography as gripping as any Dick Francis thriller’ YORKSHIRE POST ‘Endearingly honest… a fastpaced, funny autobiography’ COUNTRY LIFE MAGAZINE Legendary jockey, Frankie Dettori, shares his remarkable life story in this astonishingly intimate autobiography. When Lanfranco ‘Frankie’ Dettori arrived on British shores in 1985, aged just 14, he couldn’t speak a word of English. Having left school just a year earlier and following in the footsteps of his father, he was eager to become a stable boy and apprentice jockey, willing to do everything it took to make it. This was his first, but certainly not his last, leap of faith. Despite his slight size, Frankie’s impact upon the British racing scene was immediate and significant. Brimming with confidence, charisma and personality, and with what was clearly a precocious talent, in 1990 he became the first teenager since Lester Piggot to win over 100 races in a single season. By 1996, Frankie was already established as a celebrity in the sport and an adopted national treasure, but it was his extraordinary achievement of winning all seven races in a single day at Ascot that cemented his reputation as the greatest rider of his generation. Nearly 25 years later, and having won the Longines World’s Best Jockey for three consecutive years running, Frankie has demonstrated an unparalled level of longevity at the pinnacle of his sport. But his story is not simply one of uninterrupted success, but also of personal anguish, recovery and restoration – both in and out of the saddle. Now, Frankie compellingly reveals the lows to his highs; the plane crash that nearly killed him, the drugs ban that nearly made him quit the sport, and the acrimonious split from Godolphin that threatened his future. But Leap of Faith is also a story of love – for the sport he continues to dominate to this day, the great horses of his era (Stradivarius, Golden Horn, and of course Enable), and most importantly for his family, who have supported him every step of the way. Heartfelt and poignant, this is not simply a memoir, but a celebration of perseverance and defying the odds.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction

336 pages, Paperback

Published August 2, 2022

Reviews

[Stephen · Rating 3 out of 5]

easy going autobiography of champion jockey from growing up in Italy to his ups and downs in becoming champion jockey

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually really enjoyed this! I thought I’d have limited interest as I’m not a massive fan of horse racing, but this book was so well written and went way beyond just the races. It was a real insight into the mindset needed to be a champion, and was such a compelling read - I finished it in two days

[Will · Rating 4 out of 5]

Frankie- Legend. A great read.

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really interesting read and an easy read too. I like horse racing but I think someone with very little interest in the sport could really enjoy this book. There is the relationship of Frankie with his parents, especially his father; the meeting with his wife and subsequent marriage; the tragic accident that befalls him and fellow jockey, Ray, and its consequences; his fall from grace and ban; all this plus the details of the stables and the horses he rides. Definitely a page turner.

[Kate · Rating 2 out of 5]

The first half has interesting material, the end is here's a race and I won it. Then here's a horse and here's a better one of an owner I like more. Blatant I never tell a lie, what you see is what you get, coupled with here's a lie I told the trainer to cover mistake. Slight irritation with his tantrums. Having said that I quite liked it.

[Tristan Tusa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a huge horse racing fan and so this book felt like a natural read. On the surface, his life looks like nothing but success but it really isn’t. What a joy that Frankie was always able to fight back whenever he was on the canvas. He has been such a good ambassador for the sport and will be greatly missed once he properly retires.

[Andrew Hartshorn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Frankie being frank! Great inside track to Frankie's thinking on his decision making both good and bad!

A very well paced piece of prose and stark admissions from the man himself, a must for any racing fan.

[Carolyne Hay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gave an insight into the world of racing we DON'T see on TV.
The incredible hard work and dedication and determination that it takes to get there and stay there.
The years of virtually starving to maintain a racing weight, amazing.

[Patsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️

Frankie the legend.
I’ve won some good money off this man over the years, I’ll never forget the day he went through the card at Ascot in ‘96 👏🏻
I’m a little surprised that he didn’t mention waving to me at the Chester May meeting 😆

[Harold Talbot-Tomlinson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Took me a while to read because it was quite mundane. There are some interesting snippets but, considering the endless highs and lows Frankie has been through, I expected much more from this book.

[Greg McEnaney · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nostalgic read. There's only one Frankie.

[Norman Drake · Rating 4 out of 5]

Legend

[Roy · Rating 5 out of 5]

An exceptional read.

[Lady · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was rather disappointed as the first 60 or 70 percent was the previous autobiography. But I did enjoy the rest.

[James Crisell · Rating 4 out of 5]

easy read and a fascinating insight into the life of a jockey

[Kris · Rating 5 out of 5]

(4.5*)

When I was a teenager I was really into horses and horseracing in particular. It was not dressage horses or showjumpers that floated my boat, it was the thoroughbred racehorse. In those days Frankie Dettori became a household name.

Although I barely watch horse racing now, I always retained a soft spot for Frankie and I do tend to keep half an eye still on the big names in the sport. So, even if I am no longer the fan I once was, at least I was aware of all the horses and races named in this book, which helped. I was actually there at Epsom when he won his first Derby on Authorized and that is a nice memory to have.

Frankie tells his story with his usual flair and he tells it well. It was interesting to hear his side of some notable events that he was involved in, from fatal plane crashes to a drug ban to riding those big races. It feels like he is telling you his stories to your face. It did not feel like a book and considering that this is Frankie Dettori, that is fine by me. What endeared me to him the most is how much he clearly loves the sport and the horses themselves.

I listened to this on audio book and though the narrator (Mark Meadows) does not have the familiar Italian accent, he manages to bring that same liveliness that Frankie is famous for. I forgot it was not Frankie talking! A very good fit for this book indeed.

Now, like any memoir that is about a certain sport, it is pretty niche, so it’s hard to recommend in general. I don’t think this is one to pick up if you don’t already know the man, but for me, as someone who has followed him through the years, it was a very good listen/read and reminded me of things I had almost forgotten.

[Marco Nicolis · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice account of Dettori’s rise to fame, the ups and downs in the jockey’s life.

The description of little funny details (e.g. his interactions with the Queen) is where the book strength lies. On the flip side, I found the description of races to become quite repetitive after a while.

The book is written in a simple, conversational style, which makes the reading fast and enjoyable.

[Demetra Smith]

Amazing biography about an multi dimensional person with a fascinating life to learn about.

[Jonathan Roden · Rating 3 out of 5]

Typical jockey biography

[Spencer Preece · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed it. Went over a bit of stuff from his previous book but definitely an easy and enjoyable read.

[Big Cheese]

Great book for anyone interested in flat racing and the international racing industry

[George Wilding · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very stop start with odd paragraphs here and there that doesn't really allow any story to flow. I feel this could have been better given how storied his career has been.