FRANKIE DETTORI turns 50 with a body the envy of men half his age – thanks to eating half a Mars bar a day.
The legendary jockey remains in amazing shape after training ‘every day’ and a lifetime of dieting.
All those runs, hot baths, saunas and meals with the measliest portions have paid off for one of Britain’s most loved sportsmen.
Dettori told SunSport he can see himself remaining in the saddle for many years yet.
And is it any surprise when you see the astonishing shape he keeps himself in year in, year out?
But that look comes at a cost, with Dettori revealing to Piers Morgan on Good Morning Britain that he has to hit the gym every day to keep up with rivals half his age.
Part of the workout includes holding a plank for an amazing four-and-a-half minutes.
He said: “50 is a big number and I feel great, it’s a big milestone. 50 is a big number.
“I want to carry on as long as I can. In my sport every year people are coming through and you’ve got keep up with the young guys.
“Roger Federer is 40 next year, in my sport I can go on a bit longer.
Dettori is famed for his flying dismounts and commitment to the jockey lifestyle
“I know Lester Piggott stopped at 58. I’m not sure I’m going to get to 58 but another three or five years I will do this job that I love so much.
“I train almost every day. I have to. When you’re 20 you don’t need to train because you’re fit, but I have to.
“Now that I’m older I train every day just to keep up with the young boys, that’s the difference.
“I’m probably not as supple as I was 20 years ago but at the moment I feel good and long may it continue.”
Dettori famously shed seven pounds in six days to ride King George winner Enable at Ascot in 2017.
He put his riding weight of a tiny 8st 7lbs down to a diet of fish and water.
But it turns out Dettori’s diet has altered over the years.
In 2004 he told The Guardian: “We jockeys weigh ourselves about 20 times a day and we know if we’ve gained or lost a pound just by looking at how loose our wristwatches are.
“I’ve never got used to not eating and it is certainly the hardest part of my job. I rarely get the chance to indulge.
“I don’t eat in the day. I might grab half a Mars bar and have a few lemon teas (without milk).
“Perhaps I might pick on a chicken leg but then that will be it until dinner.
“I know you are meant to eat a good meal in the morning but if you ride on a full stomach you throw up.
“Not eating gets harder as I get older.
“When I was young it was all about getting your leg over. You think, ‘forget the meal’ and go out.
“Now I appreciate good food far more, but I have to content myself with stealing tiny spoonfuls of my children’s chocolate ice cream.”
FREE BETS GET OVER £2,000 IN SIGN UP OFFERS HERE
