At Sandown park, it
was the tearful parting of Tony McCoy, the greatest ever jockey after riding his 17,630th and final race after breaking
every record in the book... and every bone in his body. Anthony Peter McCoy OBE [1974] is an Irish former horse racing jockey, based
in England and the Republic of Ireland. He was named BBC Sports Personality of
the Year in 2010, becoming the first jockey to win the award. McCoy recorded
his first winner in 1992 at age 17. In
Nov 2013 when Sachin retired, McCoy rode
his 4,000th winner, riding Mountain Tunes to victory at Towcester. McCoy has
been Champion Jockey every year he has been professional.
The man who has ridden
a record-breaking 289 winners in one season and had total of 4,348 winners over the jumps
ended his career this day. Jump jockey
is one who rides in steeplechases. His two, third-place finishes at Sandown Park
in front of a packed crowd of 18,000 race fans brought an end to the greatest
racing career in history. McCoy, 40, has
been champion jump jockey for the past 20 years, and when he was handed the
trophy for the final time today by former Arsenal player Ian Wright, it emerged
that the Irish jockey will be allowed to keep it in perpetuity.
Some 18,000 people
packed Sandown Park to see the 20-time Champion Jockey on his final two rides. McCoy was joined on stage by his wife
Chanelle and daughter Eve and young son Archie.
In a career that has lasted more than 25 years, McCoy has ridden in more
than 17,000 races and fallen an estimated 1,000 times breaking almost every
bone in his body at least once. McCoy looked clearly emotional has he waved to
the crowd after finishing third aboard Box Office in his final race.
The record-breaking
jockey admitted that, unusually, he had difficulty sleeping last night before
his final professional rides. McCoy has been Champion Jockey in Britain and
Ireland since 1996. During his career he has had 4,348 winners since his first
victory in in Thurles, in Tipperary, Ireland on March 26, 1992 aboard Legal
Steps. His first British winner was in Exeter in 1994, riding Chickabiddy to
victory.
Today at Sandown, McCoy
was congratulated by fellow jockeys as he prepared for his final ever race. Speaking to Channel 4, McCoy said: 'Today has
been way beyond my expectations and thanks to Sandown and all the people who
have been here today. It’s been an honor and a privilege. I’ve had a brilliant
way of life for the past 25 years. McCoy
announced his retirement in February but it was only the passing of the Grand
National and his last rides at Cheltenham that made reality hit home.
He humbly said, 'In
any sport to be successful you have to be prepared to work harder than anyone
else. I think I have got talent but I have never thought I am the best at
anything. When I look back I don't think I leave much behind.' In his final race, he was beaten by his
long-time rival and friend Richard Johnson - who has been runner-up in the
Champion Jockey race to McCoy for the past fifteen years. In advance of his final rides today, stars
from across sport, entertainment and racing paid tribute to McCoy, among them,
Arsene Wenger, manager of his beloved Arsenal.
With regards – S.
Sampathkumar
26th Apr
2015.
News and photos credit : Dailymail.co.uk
