Legendary jumps jockey Tony McCoy, who has ridden over 4000 winners during a record-breaking career, has announced he will retire at the end of the season.
The 40-year-old Northern Irishman, 19-times Britain’s champion jumps jockey, made the announcement minutes after Mr Mole gave him his 200th win of the season at Newbury.
“It’s going to be the last time I ride 200 winners,” McCoy told Channel 4 Racing.
“I am going to be retiring at the end of the season.”
McCoy became the first jockey to win the prestigious BBC Sports Personality of the Year award in 2010, the year he finally won the Grand National on Don’t Push It for owner J P McManus.
He has won 19 consecutive jockey titles and wants to add one more to his collection before bowing out.
“I want to go out at the top,” McCoy said.
“I want to go out as champion jockey and it will be my 20th year if I can win the jockeys’ championship.
“I want to go out while I still enjoy riding and am still relatively at the top.”
Trainer Martin Pipe, who was McCoy’s boss for seven years from 1997, said his like would never be seen again.
“He’s been an absolute legend for horse racing and will never be surpassed again in anybody’s lifetime,” Pipe said.
Champion trainer Paul Nicholls, who has seen a fair few of his best horses beaten by inspired rides by McCoy, said he would be much missed.
“He’s been such a legend but you can’t go on for ever,” said Nicholls.
“He’s riding as well as he ever has so that’s probably the right time to go out.”
McCoy’s wife, Chanelle, said he made the decision two weeks ago.
“Some days he’s at peace with it, some days he’s a little bit sad,” she said.
“Hopefully he’ll be 20 years champion jockey this year and will go out on a high.”
