Frankie Dettori: John McCririck will be missed
By Racing TV
Last Updated: Tue 5 Dec 2023
By Nick Robson and Graham Clark
Frankie Dettori has paid tribute to a “larger than life character” who was “very knowledgeable about racing” following the news of John McCririck’s death at the age of 79.
Dettori is one of the genuine household names in racing, a tag that McCririck also carried, and the pair enjoyed many moments together over the years, as they struck up a good friendship.
“I met him for the first time when I was very young. I was 16 and I was an apprentice. He was a big part of my racing life since I started,” Dettori told PA.
“He was very flamboyant and controversial, but I always got on really well with him. We did a few things together and he will be missed.
“He did put on a bit of a show, but underneath it all he worked very hard and was very knowledgeable about racing.
“He was a larger than life character. I’m very sad for Jenny, his wife, and all of his family.”
McCririck affectionately called his wife, Jenny,
Multiple champion jumps rider Sir Anthony McCoy added his memories of ‘Big Mac’.
“John was just about the most recognisable figure in horse racing when I came to England, people had only just heard of Frankie Dettori, so it was John or Lester Piggott,” said McCoy.
“That says a lot about him to say that he wasn’t a trainer, owner or jockey. He had attitude, he had a voice and said what he thought, he wasn’t frightened of upsetting somebody.
“I don’t think I was ever on the end of one of his jockey bashings – thankfully.
“There’s a good chance in this day and age, with everything needing to be so politically correct, he might not have been the great character on TV now that he was in the 80s and 90s.
“You don’t get away now with saying what Big Mac or John Francome did, so for that reason it’s a lot harder now and more restrictive than then, but back in the day that team did a great job of representing horse racing.
“They made it as easy and enjoyable to watch as possible, but the world is changing.
“He was very good at promoting the sport, he was a very bright man, well educated and, while he had an opinion, what you have to say is he tried to be constructive. He was a punters’ man, that’s what he was there for.
“I thought he was a bit shy off camera, quietly spoken. At first he was the sort of man you’d have to go up to to talk to rather than the other way and I used to think it was arrogance or ignorance, but soon realised he was a bit shy.
“I never watched Big Brother, but flicked it on a couple of times when he was in there and when he was walking around in those white pants he certainly left an impression!”
Derek Thompson worked with McCririck for over 20 years on Channel 4 Racing and afforded him the highest compliment.
“Apart from the great guy that he was on TV, he was the most professional guy I ever worked with,” said Thompson.
“He did everything twice, in two racecards, and had two watches. When I asked him why he said, ‘In case I lose a racecard and in case my watch stops’, and looked at me as if I’d asked an incredibly stupid question.
“He was man who had a love of racing, he was a former journalist of the year and whenever I was in trouble on live TV, I could go to him and he would help me out.
“He also came up with the phrase ‘The Morning Line’ after Channel 4 had been asked to come up with a programme on a Saturday morning.
“Off camera he was a bit different, a real gentleman, a lovely man – I stayed with him and The Booby, as we called his wife Jenny, they had a nice lifestyle.
“He put racing on the map. Racing owes him a big debt because he was the voice, face, style and enigma of British racing.”
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