Under the microscope

Champion jockey Frankie Dettori, 52, takes our health quiz

CAN YOU RUN UP THE STAIRS?

YES. I like my food and wine, so for weight reasons I have to burn the calories off. I have a treadmill in a room where I put the heating on to work up a good sweat, and I’ll alternate between four minutes’ walking and one minute running, for about an hour. It works out to about five miles — if I do that every day I can eat and drink what I want. I also ride in the mornings twice a week and race three times a week.

GET YOUR FIVE A DAY?

YES and no. I eat a salad (lettuce, tomatoes, beetroot) as standard with my meals. I’ve trained myself to eat salad — when I first started racing, I lived on a Diet Coke and a Twix.

EVER DIETED?

I STARTED at 16, when I started riding. I have to make a certain weight every day. I let myself get to 9st 7lb in the offseason, but during the racing season if I get near 9st (I’m 5ft 4in) I’ll start panicking, because I have to be about 8st 9lb. When I travel I’ll have a hot bath to lose an extra couple of pounds for a race.

ANY VICES?

WINE. I also don’t mind a piece of chocolate with my morning coffee.

ANY FAMILY AILMENTS?

NO. Dad’s just turned 82, Mum is 76. Mum used to work in the circus, and my dad was a jockey — they divorced years ago.

WORST INJURY?

DURING my career I have broken my collarbone, both my elbows, my ankle, shoulder, countless ribs and fingers.

POP ANY PILLS?

ELECTROLYTES [salts], because I sweat a lot and vitamin C for immunity because I’m always on a plane or in a busy place.

COPE WELL WITH PAIN?

IN MY job, you’re going to fall, and it is painful but you have to get on with it. If I break something I know I’ve got to try to get back racing in four weeks: if you don’t play, you don’t earn. I fall the same amount as I did 30 years ago, but now that I’m over 50, my bones break like glass. This October at Ascot will be the last time I’m riding in the UK.

EVER BEEN DEPRESSED?

NOT depressed but I’ve had my highs and lows, and after I had my plane crash [in June 2000; the pilot died], I was depressed. I probably should have seen a therapist but I had family around me [his wife Catherine, and their five children] and they helped me through.

HANGOVER CURE?

I TRY not to get hangovers. If I do, a plate of pasta always works.

WHAT KEEPS YOU AWAKE? NOT much. ANY PHOBIAS?

I’M A bit claustrophobic since my plane crash. When you get in a ski lift with lots of people, I feel a bit trapped.

LIKE TO LIVE FOR EVER?

NO.