Tony McCoy (photo by racingfotos.com)
AP McCoy, who has been champion jockey for the last 19 years, announced on Saturday, 7 February 2015 that he is to retire. Shortly after riding his 200th winner of the season at Newbury, AP confirmed that he will be hanging up his boots by the end of the season. True to form, he wants to bow out on a winner, but not before he has secured his 20th consecutive Champion jockey’s title.
Sadly, time stands still for no man. Not even for the man simply known as “The Champ”. The 40-year-old has broken many bones, and battled with the challenges and dangers associated with the sport for over 20 years. AP feels the time has now come to end what has been a truly fantastic career.
“This is without a doubt, the hardest decision I’ve ever had to make”, says AP. “I’ve been dreading this day, and if I’m honest, I still can’t quite imagine a life without racing. However, I know it’s the right time to end a career I’ve loved, every single day. Even when I’ve fallen and been injured, I’ve been desperate to get back and achieve my goals, achieve the dream I realised when I was a boy, but I’m now ready to retire. I want to finish my career as Champion Jockey, and I want to finish on a win. I don’t know when that will be exactly, but 20 Championship titles is a nice even number. But, I’m not done just yet – I’ve got the Cheltenham Festival to focus on now and I’ll take it from there. There have been a lot of people who have helped me throughout my whole career who I want to thank. I will be forever indebted to them, they have helped make all my dreams come true.”
It is a sad day for both AP and for the world of horseracing. He has been one of the most prolific, talented and most successful jockeys of all time. He has enjoyed a phenomenal career, dominating the sport for two decades. He has ridden over 4,300 winners, broken and set more records than any other jockey. His career wins include the 2010 Grand National, the prestigious Cheltenham Gold Cup, the Champion Hurdle, Queen Mother Champion Chase & King George VI Chase. AP was named BBC’s Sports Personality of the year in 2010, he was runner up in 2013 when he also became RTE’ Irish Sports Personality of the Year. His retirement will certainly leave a void.
