The racing icon had hoped to make his comeback in the Leger Legends race

Racing icon Frankie Dettori has pulled out of his racing comeback at Doncaster after being seriously injured in a car crash.

The Italian star has lost his battle to be fit enough to return to the saddle for the Betfred Leger Legends race which will be at Town Moor on September 11.

He was due to make his first appearance in Britain since bowing out in 2023.

However, shortly after it was announced the 55-year-old had signed up for the annual fundraiser in aid of the Injured Jockeys Fund, he was involved in a serious car accident – in which he broke several ribs and a thumb after his car flipped near to his home in Newmarket.

In a video posted to Dettori’s Instagram account on Tuesday, he said: “I’m really sorry I won’t be riding in the Legends race.

“I tried, I’m not fit enough. I still feel the effects of the car crash I had at the beginning of July, but I will be there to support my fellow jockeys participating and the new people riding in the race for the Injured Jockeys Fund.

“I’ll also be there on the Saturday to support 250th anniversary of our oldest Classic, the St Leger. I’d like to apologise that I can’t make the race this year and hopefully I’ll be there next year.”

Dettori has a rich history with Doncaster, having won the St Leger six times during his decorated career.

He was at the wheel of a loaned Smart car when he was involved in a collision with a Ford Focus, which flipped Dettori’s car onto its roof.

The sports star managed to force open his door and climb out to safety before sitting at the roadside and alerting emergency services to the scene near his home in Suffolk.

Dettori’s wife Catherine told The Sun how her husband had been going out to buy chicken when the crash occurred.

She said: “We’re just so thankful.

“Frankie’s being looked after and, thankfully, he’s going to be OK.

“We’d borrowed the Smart car from a friend because we’d been back and forth to America and didn’t really have a car ourselves.”

Catherine added: “Someone once said ‘God laughs at people who make plans’.

“Yesterday Frankie was talking about riding again, and then this happens.

Dettori shared a photo on social media of himself in his hospital bed and said he would be "taking some time to rest and recover".

"A huge thank you... to the fantastic emergency staff who looked after me," he added.

"Thank you, everyone, for your kind messages and support.

"A huge thank you as well to the fantastic emergency staff who looked after me.”