Frankie Dettori taken to hospital after being thrown from horse prior to race

The superstar jockey, who is riding in New York, was taken by ambulance for further evaluation after the incident at Aqueduct racetrack

Frankie Dettori was taken to hospital after he was unshipped from his horse at the starting stalls on Thursday.

The superstar jockey was riding at Aqueduct racetrack in New York, the latest of many US tracks he has visited during the first year of his stay in the US.

After u-turning on an announced retirement, the Italian relocated to California at the end of 2023 after a 32-year riding career in Britain where he established himself as the world’s most famous jockey.

He has quickly established himself over the pond, having ridden 64 winners of races worth more than £8 million.

On Thursday ahead of the last race of the ‘Belmont at the Big A’ fixture Dettori was thrown from the two-year-old filly Pretty Liza, reportedly landing on his back.

The horse was scratched from the race and Dettori was able to walk to an ambulance but was then transferred to Jamaica Hospital.

New York Racing Association communications officer Keith McCalmont provided updates via X.

He said: “Pretty Liza unseated Frankie Dettori at the gate before the start of the @TheNYRA 9th. The horse was scratched and walked off. Dettori walked to the ambulance and will attend Jamaica Hospital for further evaluation.”

In a later bulletin, he reported: “Per agent Ron Anderson, Frankie Dettori dislocated his shoulder. The shoulder is back in place and Dettori heading home. Status on riding to update tomorrow.”

Dettori, 53, was booked on six mounts on Friday, eight on Saturday and three on Sunday before he was due to pay his first visit to Finger Lakes, in upstate New York, on Tuesday.

In a post on his own X account on Friday, he said: "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."