Former professional jockey Frankie Dettori will remain in bankruptcy for another year as a judge decided not to automatically discharge his bankruptcy. During a specialized hearing, the trustees of Dettori’s bankruptcy requested an extension of the order for an additional year.
Bankruptcy orders typically expire after a year in England and Wales but can be prolonged by a judge, keeping the individual bound by its conditions and subject to potential legal action for non-compliance. Dettori did not participate in the hearing or have representation present.
Dettori, who retired from racing recently, filed for bankruptcy in March 2025 while addressing tax issues in the United Kingdom following a dispute with HMRC. The 55-year-old faced financial challenges after employing tax advisors for managing his and his family’s finances.
In a recent development, liquidators stated that Dettori was unlikely to settle his substantial tax debt, which amounted to £765,542 owed to HMRC and £6,391 to a car leasing company, with additional fees pushing the total debt to almost £900,000.
During the court proceedings in London, Stefan Ramel, representing the trustees, highlighted Dettori’s lack of cooperation in providing essential information about his assets, including potential overseas properties ownership.
Chief Insolvency and Companies Court Judge Nicholas Briggs ruled to extend the bankruptcy order until March 16, 2027, citing Dettori’s persistent failure to comply with information requests. Briggs emphasized the possibility of criminal consequences for continued non-cooperation, underscoring the need to uncover relevant details in the bankruptcy case.
The judge mentioned undisclosed assets, such as properties in France and Italy, a valuable watch, a wine collection worth approximately £70,000, and investments totaling around £365,000. He noted that Dettori had the opportunity to present his case in court or through legal representation but failed to do so.
Dettori, known for his illustrious racing career, initially retired in 2023 but later resumed racing in the United States and South America before his final race in February. He holds multiple British Classic wins and has been a three-time British champion jockey, currently serving as an ambassador for the Amo Racing team.