Anthony Peter McCoy OBEThe Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(born 4 May 1974), commonly known as
A. P. McCoy or
Tony McCoy, is a Northern Irish
horse racingHorse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
jockeyA jockey is an athlete who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing.-Etymology:...
.
Having recorded his first win at age 17 in 1992, by 2009 he had ridden over 3,000 winners and been named
British jump racing Champion JockeyIn Great Britain's National Hunt racing, the title of Champion Jockey is bestowed on the jockey who has ridden the most winning horses during a racing season. From its inception in 1900 through to 1925, the award was given to the jockey who had ridden the most winners during a calendar year...
every year since 1995/6. His winners included the prestigious
Cheltenham Gold CupThe Cheltenham Gold Cup is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in the United Kingdom which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the New Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 3 miles and 2½ furlongs , and during its running there are twenty-two fences to be jumped...
,
Champion HurdleThe Champion Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. As part of a sponsorship agreement with the online sportsbook StanJames.com, the race is now known as the Stan James Champion Hurdle...
,
Queen Mother Champion ChaseThe Queen Mother Champion Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the Old Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 2 miles , and during its running there are twelve fences to be jumped...
,
King George VI ChaseThe King George VI Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Kempton Park over a distance of about 3 miles , and during its running there are eighteen fences to be jumped...
and the
2010 Grand NationalThe 2010 Grand National was the 163rd renewal of the world-famous Grand National horse race that took place at the Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool, England, on 10 April 2010....
, riding Don't Push It on his 15th attempt. He has ridden over 13,000 races (equivalent of 31,000 miles or 1.25 times around the earth). In addition, McCoy was named
BBC Sports Personality of the YearThe BBC Sports Personality of the Year is an awards ceremony that takes place annually in December. Devised by Paul Fox in 1954, it originally consisted of one titular award. Several new awards have been introduced, and , eight awards are presented. The oldest of these are the Team of the Year and...
in 2010, becoming the first jockey to win the award.
Career
McCoy rode his first winner, 'Legal Steps', at
ThurlesThurles is a town situated in North Tipperary, Ireland. It is a civil parish in the historical barony of Eliogarty and is also an ecclesiastical parish in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly...
, on 26 March 1992 at the age of 17. Success in
IrelandIreland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
soon led to a move across the
Irish SeaThe Irish Sea separates the islands of Ireland and Great Britain. It is connected to the Celtic Sea in the south by St George's Channel, and to the Atlantic Ocean in the north by the North Channel. Anglesey is the largest island within the Irish Sea, followed by the Isle of Man...
, and he began riding in
EnglandEngland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in 1994. McCoy's main trainer was
Martin PipeMartin Pipe was a racehorse trainer until his retirement in April 2006.The son of a West-Country bookmaker, Pipe was an amateur jockey before turning his attention to training in 1974 at Nicholashayne, Devon, near Wellington, England....
but they parted ways. He had begun working at a dealers yard when he was 15, and then apprenticed with Jim Bolger for 4 years.
McCoy has broken numerous records since he was granted a British licence, his first win in England coming at
ExeterExeter Racecourse is a thoroughbred horse racing venue located near the city of Exeter, Devon, England. Locally it is known as Haldon racecourse because of its location on top of the Haldon Hills...
on 7 September 1994. He was soon off to a flying start by claiming a record 74 winners, and thus the conditional jockey championship, in the 1994-95 season. The following season he became
champion jockeyIn Great Britain's National Hunt racing, the title of Champion Jockey is bestowed on the jockey who has ridden the most winning horses during a racing season. From its inception in 1900 through to 1925, the award was given to the jockey who had ridden the most winners during a calendar year...
for the first time.
By the end of the decade he had set a new National Hunt record for winners in a season (253), equalled the record of five winners at the 1998 Cheltenham Festival, and became the fastest jockey to reach the 1000 winner mark.
McCoy went on to beat
Gordon RichardsSir Gordon Richards was an English jockey, and is often considered the world's greatest ever jockey. He remains the only jockey to have been knighted....
' theretofore unbeaten record for winners in a season for all types of racing in 2002 (although by using modern technology McCoy was able to attend far more races than Richards). McCoy beat Richards' record of 269 winners in a season on 'Valfonic' at
WarwickWarwick Racecourse is a horse racing course in Warwick, England. It is a leading flat racing and steeple chasing course, and has a programme of 25 meetings throughout the year, many of which are televised. The first stand was built in 1808, it has recently undergone a major refurbishment of its...
on 2 April 2002; he went on to end the campaign on 289.
McCoy soon achieved a new high of 289 winners, and on 27 August 2002, at
UttoxeterUttoxeter Racecourse is a National Hunt racecourse in the town of Uttoxeter, in Staffordshire, England.Uttoxeter is a left-handed oval shaped course of one mile two and a half furlongs in circumference....
, his victory on 'Mighty Mantefalco' meant he had surpassed
Richard DunwoodyThomas Richard Dunwoody MBE is a retired British jockey in National Hunt racing. He was a three-time Champion Jockey, riding 1699 British winners in his career. His father was a leading Point to Point rider...
's record of all time jumps winners and was now the leading jumps rider of all time.
On 3 October 2006 McCoy became the first jump jockey to ride 2,500 winners. McCoy rode his 3000th winner at Plumpton on the Nicky Henderson-trained 'Restless D'Artaix' in the Tyser & Co Beginners’ Chase on 9 February 2009. 'Restless D'Artaix' was sent off a 13-8 Favourite for the race.
McCoy has gone on to ride over 3000 winners and says he never stops dreaming of the day he will reach 4000.
Having won the
Cheltenham Gold CupThe Cheltenham Gold Cup is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in the United Kingdom which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the New Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 3 miles and 2½ furlongs , and during its running there are twenty-two fences to be jumped...
,
Champion HurdleThe Champion Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. As part of a sponsorship agreement with the online sportsbook StanJames.com, the race is now known as the Stan James Champion Hurdle...
,
Queen Mother Champion ChaseThe Queen Mother Champion Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the Old Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 2 miles , and during its running there are twelve fences to be jumped...
,
King George VI ChaseThe King George VI Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Kempton Park over a distance of about 3 miles , and during its running there are eighteen fences to be jumped...
and the
Grand NationalThe Grand National is a world-famous National Hunt horse race which is held annually at Aintree Racecourse, near Liverpool, England. It is a handicap chase run over a distance of four miles and 856 yards , with horses jumping thirty fences over two circuits of Aintree's National Course...
.
The nearest McCoy had previously come in the National were three third-place finishes, in
2001The 2001 Grand National was the 154th official renewal of the world-famous Grand National horse race that took place at Aintree near Liverpool, England, on 7 April 2001....
and
2002The 2002 Grand National was the 155th official renewal of the world-famous Grand National steeplechase that took place at Aintree near Liverpool, England, at 3:45pm BST on 6 April 2002....
aboard
Martin PipeMartin Pipe was a racehorse trainer until his retirement in April 2006.The son of a West-Country bookmaker, Pipe was an amateur jockey before turning his attention to training in 1974 at Nicholashayne, Devon, near Wellington, England....
's Blowing Wind (as the 8-1 favourite in 2002), and in
2006The 2006 Grand National was the 159th official annual running of the Grand National steeplechase which took place at Aintree near Liverpool, England, on 8 April 2006 and attracted the maximum permitted field of forty competitors for total prize money of £689,360 including £399,140 to the...
on Jonjo O'Neill's 5-1 joint favourite, Clan Royal. In 2009 he finished 7th on Butler's Cabin, which started as 7/1 favourite.
He finally won the Grand National at the fifteenth attempt,
on 10 April 2010The 2010 Grand National was the 163rd renewal of the world-famous Grand National horse race that took place at the Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool, England, on 10 April 2010....
aboard
Don't Push ItDon't Push It is a Grand National-winning thoroughbred racehorse.- Debut :Don't Push It began his career on the 5th December 2004 at Warwick Racecourse in a National Hunt Flat race . He finished 3rd.- 2005-2006 Season :...
, trained by
Jonjo O'NeillJonjo O'Neill is an Irish National Hunt racehorse trainer and former jockey. He is a native of Castletownroche, County Cork in Ireland. Based at the Jackdaws Castle training establishment in England, O'Neill is the private trainer to J. P. McManus, one of the largest owners of steeplechasers and...
and owned by
J. P. McManusJohn Patrick "J. P." McManus is an Irish businessman and racehorse owner.- Early life :Born in Limerick, McManus began his business career at his family's construction plant hire firm, and then became an on-course bookmaker at Limerick's greyhound track, the Market's Field, before moving into...
.
Colours
McCoy is
retainedA retainer agreement is a work for hire contract. It falls between a one-time contract and full-time employment. Its distinguishing feature is that the employer pays in advance for work to be specified later...
by the Irish millionaire and avid horse-owner,
J. P. McManusJohn Patrick "J. P." McManus is an Irish businessman and racehorse owner.- Early life :Born in Limerick, McManus began his business career at his family's construction plant hire firm, and then became an on-course bookmaker at Limerick's greyhound track, the Market's Field, before moving into...
, and normally rides for ex-jockey
Jonjo O'NeillJonjo O'Neill is an Irish National Hunt racehorse trainer and former jockey. He is a native of Castletownroche, County Cork in Ireland. Based at the Jackdaws Castle training establishment in England, O'Neill is the private trainer to J. P. McManus, one of the largest owners of steeplechasers and...
's stable. McCoy can often be noticed riding a McManus horse by the owner's distinctive green and gold hooped jersey, often with a white cap.
Sports Personality of the Year 2010
McCoy was awarded the 2010
BBC Sports Personality of the YearThe BBC Sports Personality of the Year is an awards ceremony that takes place annually in December. Devised by Paul Fox in 1954, it originally consisted of one titular award. Several new awards have been introduced, and , eight awards are presented. The oldest of these are the Team of the Year and...
, beating darts player Phil Taylor and heptathlete
Jessica EnnisJessica Ennis, MBE is a British track and field athlete specialising in multi-eventing disciplines and 100m hurdles...
into second and third place respectively. Winning the 2010
Grand NationalThe Grand National is a world-famous National Hunt horse race which is held annually at Aintree Racecourse, near Liverpool, England. It is a handicap chase run over a distance of four miles and 856 yards , with horses jumping thirty fences over two circuits of Aintree's National Course...
at his 15th attempt riding the
Jonjo O'NeillJonjo O'Neill is an Irish National Hunt racehorse trainer and former jockey. He is a native of Castletownroche, County Cork in Ireland. Based at the Jackdaws Castle training establishment in England, O'Neill is the private trainer to J. P. McManus, one of the largest owners of steeplechasers and...
trained
Don't Push ItDon't Push It is a Grand National-winning thoroughbred racehorse.- Debut :Don't Push It began his career on the 5th December 2004 at Warwick Racecourse in a National Hunt Flat race . He finished 3rd.- 2005-2006 Season :...
was a contributing factor to his win.. He was presented with the award by the then Arsenal Captain
Cesc FabregasFrancesc "Cesc" Fàbregas i Soler is a Spanish footballer who plays as a central midfielder for La Liga club FC Barcelona.Fàbregas started his career as a trainee with Barcelona but was signed by Premier League side Arsenal in September 2003 at the age of 16...
and during his speech he joked that he will be "that idiot in the crowd shouting at him" when he goes to watch Arsenal play.
Personal life
McCoy was born in
MoneyglassMoneyglass is a small village and townland in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. In the 2001 Census it had a population of 90. Moneyglass is near Toome and Lough Beg.- People :*Moneyglass was at one time home to Malachy McCourt and his family...
,
County AntrimCounty Antrim is one of six counties that form Northern Ireland, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland. Adjoined to the north-east shore of Lough Neagh, the county covers an area of 2,844 km², with a population of approximately 616,000...
,
Northern IrelandNorthern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
. He wrote an autobiography,
McCoy in 2003, to follow up his first book,
Real McCoy: My Life So Far, released in 1999.
Standing at 1.78 m (5'10"), McCoy has been known to diet in order to make the low weights on some rides, starving himself down to when his natural weight is about 9.5 kg (one and a half stone) more.
Speaking on BBC1, McCoy revealed he had days when he had been for a run, had a hot bath, and then been in tears getting out because of exhaustion.
He has had over 680 falls since becoming a Jockey. Due to this he has incurred a number of bone breakages which include; a middle and lower vertebrae, both shoulder blades, ribs, an ankle, cheekbones, a wrist, a leg and chipped teeth. He has also dislocated his thumb.
He is an avid
ArsenalArsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
fan.
Honours
- Champion Jockey
In Great Britain's National Hunt racing, the title of Champion Jockey is bestowed on the jockey who has ridden the most winning horses during a racing season. From its inception in 1900 through to 1925, the award was given to the jockey who had ridden the most winners during a calendar year...
: 1995/96, 1996/97, 1997/98, 1998/99, 1999/2000, 2000/01, 2001/02, 2002/03, 2003/04, 2004/05, 2005/06, 2006/07, 2007/08, 2008/09, 2009/10, 2010/11
- Lester Award
A Lester Award is one of a range of awards given to jockeys at an annual ceremony in Great Britain. The awards are named in honour of Lester Piggott, an eleven-time British flat racing Champion Jockey who won thirty British Classic Races from 1954 to 1992...
s:
- Conditional Jockey of the Year: 1995
- Jump Jockey of the Year: 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010
- Jockey of the Year: 1997 (award discontinued after 1997)
McCoy was appointed MBE in the 2003 Queen's Birthday Honours and OBE in the
2010 Birthday HonoursThe Birthday Honours 2010 for the Commonwealth Realms were announced on 7 June 2010 in New Zealand and 12 June 2010 in United Kingdom to celebrate the Queen's Birthday of 2010.-Knights Bachelor:*Professor John Rex Beddington CMG, for science...
for his services to horse racing.
In December 2010, McCoy was named Sportsman of the Year at the British Sports Awards in London, voted for by the Sports Journalists Association.
Notable race wins
- Champion Chase: Edredon Bleu 2000
- Champion Hurdle: Make A Stand
Make A Stand is a retired British Thoroughbred racehorse. In a career which lasted from 1993 to 2000 he ran thirty times, both on the flat and over hurdles, and won twelve races...
1997, Brave IncaBrave Inca is a retired Irish Thoroughbred racehorse who won ten Grade I races including the 2006 Champion Hurdle.-Background:...
, 2006, BinocularBinocular, foaled on March 17, 2004 in France, is a French thoroughbred racehorse, born to sire, Enrique and dam Bleu Ciel Et Blanc. He is owned by J. P. McManus and trained by Nicky Henderson. His primary jockey is Tony McCoy....
2010
- Cheltenham Gold Cup: Mr. Mulligan, 1997
- King George: Best Mate
Best Mate was a famous English trained racehorse and three-time winner of the Cheltenham Gold Cup...
2002
- Irish Grand National: Butler's Cabin, 2007
- William Hill Trophy
The Festival Trophy is a Grade 3 National Hunt chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the Old Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 3 miles and 110 yards , and during its running there are nineteen fences to be jumped...
: Wichita Lineman, 2009
- Ryanair Chase: Albertas Run, 2010 & 2011
- Midlands Grand National: Synchronised, 2010
- Scottish Grand National: "Belmont King", 1997
- Bet 365 Gold Cup: Hennessy, 2009
- Tingle Creek Chase: Master Minded, 2008
- Melling Chase: Viking Flagship, 1996, Albertas Run, 2010
- Grand National
The Grand National is a world-famous National Hunt horse race which is held annually at Aintree Racecourse, near Liverpool, England. It is a handicap chase run over a distance of four miles and 856 yards , with horses jumping thirty fences over two circuits of Aintree's National Course...
: Don't Push ItDon't Push It is a Grand National-winning thoroughbred racehorse.- Debut :Don't Push It began his career on the 5th December 2004 at Warwick Racecourse in a National Hunt Flat race . He finished 3rd.- 2005-2006 Season :...
, 2010
- Galway Plate: Finger On The Pulse, 2010
- RSA Chase: Albertas Run
- Arkle Challenge Trophy: Or Royal 1997, Champleve 1998, Well Chief 2004
- Lexus Chase: Exotic Dancer 2008
- Paddy Power Gold Cup: Exotic Dancer 2007
- Welsh Grand National: Synchronised, 2010
- Victor Chandler Chase
The Victor Chandler Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of about 2 miles and 1 furlong , and during its running there are thirteen fences to be jumped...
: *Master MindedMaster Minded is a French bred National Hunt racehorse presently trained in Great Britain by Paul Nicholls.- Early Days in France :...
2011
Winning milestones
- 1,000th winner: Majadou, Cheltenham
Cheltenham Racecourse is a racecourse for horse racing events, located at Prestbury Park, in the suburban village of Prestbury on the outskirts of the English town of Cheltenham, Gloucestershire...
, 11 December 1999
- 1,500th winner: Celtic Native, Exeter
Exeter Racecourse is a thoroughbred horse racing venue located near the city of Exeter, Devon, England. Locally it is known as Haldon racecourse because of its location on top of the Haldon Hills...
, 20 December 2001
- 2,000th winner: Magical Bailiwick, Wincanton
Wincanton Racecourse is a thoroughbred horse racing venue located in Wincanton, Somerset, England.The steeplechase fences are large, making it a good test of a chaser...
, 17 January 2004
- 3,000th winner: Restless D'Artaix, Plumpton
Plumpton Racecourse is a National Hunt horse-racing course at the village of Plumpton, East Sussex near Lewes and Brighton.One of the smaller National Hunt race courses in Britain, it is rather hilly, a tightish left-handed circuit of just over a mile...
, 9 February 2009
Seasonal totals of winners
- 1994/95 74
- 1995/96 175
- 1996/97 189
- 1997/98 253
- 1998/99 186
- 1999/2000 245
- 2000/01 191
- 2001/02 289 (a British jumps record)
- 2002/03 256
- 2003/04 209
- 2004/05 200
- 2005/06 178
- 2006/07 184
- 2007/08 140
- 2008/09 186
- 2009/10 195
- 2010/11 218
External links