Frankie Dettori says he has yet to get used to racing without any spectators, admitting the whole situation is “awful”.
Horse Racing, like many sports across the world, has been forced to go behind closed doors over recent months due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic that has had a devastating global impact.
For the equestrian enthusiasts, it means they have had to watch the racing action from the comfort of their own home and the lack of fans at racecourses has had a knock-on effect for some of the jockeys.
One of those is Dettori, who often thrives off the big crowds at the most glamorous meetings, and he admits it has just not been the same without the roar of the stands.
Speaking to Ruby Walsh on RTE 2fm's Game On, he said: “I'll be honest with you, it's awful. It's been a while now, but I still can't get my head around it. We did Royal Ascot and to come back to an empty grandstand was not fun.
“Before and after [a race], I'm a person who needs the crowd to lift me a bit when things are not going well or when things are going really well. We're all in the same position but it's not the same, for sure.”
Dettori will be aboard Enable at the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe on Sunday as the horse looks to become the first ever three-time winner of the Paris race after triumphs in 2017 and 2018.
