Dettori Dislocates Shoulder In Starting Gate Mishap At Aqueduct
Jockey Frankie Dettori was taken to Jamaica Hospital near Aqueduct racetrack late Thursday afternoon after the international horse racing riding star was involved in a starting gate incident just prior to the day's ninth and final race in South Ozone Park, N.Y.
Dettori was thrown from Pretty Liza when the 2-year-old Kantharos filly reared in the starting gate and landed on his back, according to Daily Racing Form's David Grening. Trained by Rudy Rodriguez, Pretty Liza was making her second career start in the six-furlong turf race for 2-year-old maiden fillies. She was scratched and returned to the barn of her trainer.
Keith McCalmont, director of communications for the New York Racing Association, posted on social media that Dettori "walked to the ambulance" before being taken to Jamaica Hospital for "further evaluation."
McCalmont updated Dettori's condition later Thursday evening, reporting that agent Ron Anderson said the rider dislocated his shoulder. "The shoulder is back in place and Dettori heading home," McCalmont posted.
Dettori took off his mounts on Friday and is day-to-day, according to published reports.
Treatment after dislocation of a shoulder separation sometimes requires the arm to be kept in a sling for a period of time to allow the soft tissue around the injured area to heal.
Dettori shared the news on his X (formerly Twitter) account:
I appreciate all the messages. I’m doing OK! I dislocated my right shoulder - my team here in the hospital have put it back together.
Thanks for the messages of concern, it means a lot ?? pic.twitter.com/ljaDkoqHwz— Frankie Dettori (@FrankieDettori) September 20, 2024
Pretty Liza was Dettori's lone mount on Thursday. He was named on six horses Friday at the Belmont at the Big A meet at Aqueduct, eight on Saturday and three on Sunday. On Monday, Dettori had planned to travel to Finger Lakes racetrack near Rochester, N.Y., to ride in a pair of stakes races for New York-bred 2-year-olds.
Related: Frankie Goes To ... Finger Lakes?
Dettori, 53, has been riding in the U.S. regularly since late 2022, when he launched what originally had been planned as a farewell tour that was to end with retirement in late 2023. According to Anderson, Dettori has put off any talk of retirement and has immigration paperwork allowing him to stay in the U.S. for at least three more years.
