The perennial champion jumps jockey’s trophy will become Tony McCoy’s personal property after he is crowned No.1 for the 20th and final time at Sandown.
The trophy is to be decommissioned and presented to McCoy on his retirement on Saturday (Sunday AEST) to keep permanently in acknowledgement of his number of titles and his contribution to the sport over the past two decades.
The trophy was commissioned in 2007 and, as McCoy has held the coveted title since 1995-96, the Irishman is the only jockey to have ever lifted it.
The trophy lists the winners of the championship since its inception in 1900, when amateur jockey Mr H S Sidney took the title.
Since then many notable names have claimed the trophy including jockey-turned-crime novelist Dick Francis (1953-54), Jonjo O’Neill (1977-78-79-80) and Richard Dunwoody (1992-93-94-95) who was the last rider to win the title before McCoy’s reign began.
“AP McCoy has won many trophies and accolades over the years, but it is his association with the champion jump jockey title in particular that has symbolised AP as a true champion,” Ruth Quinn, director of racing at the British Horseracing Authority said.
“We therefore felt that retiring the trophy and presenting it permanently to AP would go some way to acknowledging what an outstanding career he has had and to thank him for all he has done for British racing.”
Next season’s champion will be awarded a new trophy, which will be commissioned and designed over the coming year ready for the presentation in April 2016 and will again carry the roll of honour from 1900.
