Jockey takes honorary doctorate in his stride

Jockey Frankie Dettori admitted feeling slightly out of place as he was made an honorary doctor of science at a ceremony in Cambridge.

Dettori left his native Italy as a teenager, with little formal education, to become a stable lad in Newmarket, but his many achievements on the racecourse have made him a household name.

As well as riding all seven winners at Ascot in 1996, he has collected virtually every major prize in the racing world and landed his 500th group race earlier this month.

Dettori was chosen by Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge for his services to racing as they have established links with the sport through their research into equine science and treatment.

After leaving the Corn Exchange in a blue and yellow gown, he said: “It feels a little bit embarrassing, to be honest, as I have been standing alongside hundreds of young students who have been studying for many years to get a degree and I’ve sneaked in through the back door.

“I left school at 14 and I have been here for 25 years now. I came here with little English but the British public have really embraced me.

“I’ve had a colourful life and done things to extremes, including having five children. But I’ve achieved a lot in racing.

“I’m really proud to receive an honorary doctorate and I can’t wait to show the pictures to my children.”

He added: “I’ve been made a commendatore in Italy and I got an MBE from Her Majesty, but this goes up there with them – I’m going to have a very long business card.

“I didn’t think it would be such a large ceremony – I thought it might just be in a small office – but the people in England have such great traditions, and I’m proud to have been part of it.”