Seven-timer changed people's lives - Dettori
Italian racing legend Frankie Dettori believes the the day he went through the card winning all seven races at Ascot 20 years ago changed people's lives. The exuberant 45-year-old -- who numbers two Epsom Derbies and four Arc de Triomphe successes amongst the over 3,000 winners he has guided home -- told the BBC on the 20th anniversary of his feat that it was his "greatest" achievement. But he believes it was much more important than that for those who had backed him to win all seven. The seven winners' combined odds came to 25,095-1 (at starting prices), or nearly 236,000-1 for anyone who had backed them at their morning odds. "For sporting achievement, it's my greatest thing that I've ever done, and in horse racing. It would be very hard to match something like that," he said. "And, second, there's a fairytale scenario where bookmakers lost £40 million (47 million euros, $52 million), and wherever I went, in every part of the country, I had so many people coming up to me who'd won so much money on that day, and it changed people's lives, so it's a very amazing thing." Dettori, who has bounced back to top form after a dark period when he lost his job with the powerful Dubai-operated Godolphin Operation and then served a ban for a failed dope test, said he was amazed that his septet had even affected the stock market. "I moved the stock market (because of fears about bookmakers' losses). It was crazy what happened, but it's nice that it can happen and people made a lot of money." Dettori -- who came close to death in 2000 when the light aircraft he was travelling in crashed, killing the pilot, although he escaped with just a broken ankle -- recalled how after his victory with Lochangel had become his sixth winner he began to celebrate. Already with six winners he had equalled the feats of three predecessors in Gordon Richards (at Chepstow, 1933), Alec Russell (at Bogside, 1957) and Willie Carson (Newcastle, 1990). "After Lochangel, the euphoria came out, and I was delighted," said Dettori. "I sprayed champagne at everyone, it was great. "Never in a million years did I think I'd win the seventh, but I remember putting my colours on and giving the saddle to Michael Stoute (trainer of his final ride Fujiyama Crest) and I said to him: 'Look, I'm on fire, so if this horse gets beat, it's all your fault', and he laughed. "We went out and got a standing ovation from the public which was very touching, but I was very relaxed and serene because I didn't really believe the horse could win."
