The racing icon is making a comeback at Doncaster in September

Racing legend Frankie Dettori has been rushed to hospital following a horror road crash - just hours after announcing he was coming out of retirement for a special race at this year’s St Leger meeting in Doncaster.

The Italian jockey, 55, was travelling in a car in Newmarket, Suffolk ,when it was struck by another vehicle yesterday, his agents have announced.

According to his reps, the car was spun and flipped in the road after the rear passenger side was hit.

Emergency services were scrambled to the scene and the six time St Leger winner was rushed to hospital.

Cambridgeshire Police said officers were called to “reports of a collision between a car and a motorbike” on the A1304 London Road near Six Mile Bottom at around 7pm on Wednesday.

The force said no arrests were made.

An East of England Ambulance Service spokesperson said: “We were called just after 6.55pm (on Wednesday) to a road traffic collision on the A1304 near Six Mile Bottom.

“Two ambulances and an ambulance officer vehicle were sent to the scene.

“Two patients were transported to Addenbrooke’s Hospital (in Cambridge) for further assessment and treatment.”

Dettori was treated for a broken thumb and several broken ribs, according to his agents.

He is currently still in hospital for further observation and awaiting scans to confirm the extent of his injuries.

H Talent Management said: “H Talent Management can confirm that Frankie Dettori was involved in a road traffic accident in Newmarket on the evening of Wednesday, 1st July.

“Another vehicle struck the rear passenger side of the car Frankie was driving, causing it to spin and flip.

“Frankie was taken to hospital, where he was found to have sustained several broken ribs and a broken thumb. His injuries are still being assessed, and he remains in hospital for further scans and observation.

“Frankie would like to thank the emergency services who attended the scene, together with the doctors, nurses and wider medical team caring for him.

“His focus is now on resting and recovering. H Talent Management respectfully asks that Frankie’s privacy is respected at this time.

“No further comment will be made until there is a meaningful update.”

Earlier this week, the racing icon announced he was coming out of retirment for the Leger Legends race at this September’s meeting at Town Moor.

The UK's only charity race, The Betfred Leger Legends sees ex-professional jockeys return to the saddle once more to raise money for the Injured Jockeys Fund

The race will take place on Betfred Gents Day on September 11 as part of the four day meeting.

Dettori, whose career spanned more than 35 years, was British flat racing Champion Jockey three times and rode 287 winners, including 23 winners of the British Classic Races.

His most celebrated achievement was riding all seven winners on British Festival of Racing Day at Ascot Racecourse on 28 September 1996.

Born in Milan, at the age of fourteen he went to Newmarket to work first as a stable lad, later as a jockey in the yard of Luca Cumani, winning the British champion apprentice jockey in 1989.

He was appointed stable jockey for Sheikh Mohammed's newly founded Godolphin Racing in 1994 and during the next eighteen years rode most of his worldwide big race victories in Godolphin's royal-blue colours.

He announced in December 2022 that 2023 would be his final year of professional riding.

In December 2023 he moved to California to continue to race in the United States and on the international circuit before finally stepping down in February this year.