Tony McCoy has been awarded a knighthood in the New Year Honours list in recognition of his services to horseracing

Tony McCoy hailed it an "unbelievable privilege and honour" after receiving a knighthood in the Queen's New Year Honours list in recognition of his services to horseracing.

The 41-year-old officially retired at the end of April when he brought the curtain down on a spectacular 23-year National Hunt career.

McCoy said: "It is an unbelievable privilege and honour to receive a knighthood in the New Year Honours List. I certainly wasn't expecting it. A knighthood really tops off what's been a crazy and memorable year."

Speaking to Sky Sports News, McCoy added: "I was very humbled when I heard the news. I never thought it was something that would happen to me.

"I am very proud of it. I think it is great for myself but it is great for the game of racing. It is something that is very difficult to put words to."

I was very humbled when I heard the news. I never thought it was something that would happen to me.

Asked if he felt nervous about the forthcoming trip to Buckingham Palace, he said: "Yes, very much so. I have been lucky enough to spend some time in Her Majesty's company before so I'll very much be looking forward to the day.

"She is a great racing enthusiast. Her Majesty is very knowledgeable about our sport and we are very lucky to have her involved in racing. I will feel very honoured and very proud when I go there."

McCoy admitted that he expected some leg-pulling from his former colleagues over the honour and his new title.

"There are a few of them that I am definitely going to make call me Sir - I am not going to answer unless I get Sir in front of it," he said.

"But it is something I think even the lads in the weighing room will be pretty pleased with."

McCoy admitted a sense of incredulity when he gained notification of the honour for services to horseracing.

He told The Times: "It was a couple of weeks ago I got the news.

"I was just about to go into a charity event, in London, and quickly browsing through my emails - and there was this message from the Home Office.

"I read it again. And then I read it again. Even then, I was wondering whether it might be some kind of hoax.

"They had asked me to call this number, and I was wondering which practical joker would be on the line.

"To be considered worthy of the same recognition as Sir Gordon is something that is going to take a long time to sink in.

"I do hope the news will reflect well on our sport.

"It meant a lot to me, to stay champion jockey throughout my career, but I only ever did it, in the first place, because it was my passion. I loved horses, and riding them answered a need I had.

"And there are lots of other people out there for whom it was no different. Lots of people who had to go through exactly the same as me, and never gained any recognition. Yet here am I, with a knighthood."

The jockey counted 31 Cheltenham Festival winners, as well as two Gold Cups and one famous Grand National success, among his big-race haul.

McCoy was also crowned champion jockey for 20 consecutive seasons, with the trophy decommissioned and awarded to him permanently at the end of the last campaign.

A total of 4,358 career winners were banked after he first struck gold with Legal Steps at Thurles in March 1992.

Capard King gave him a final triumph over jumps at Ayr on April 17 this year before McCoy enjoyed one last spin when winning the 'Leger Legends' Flat race aboard Gannicus at Doncaster in September.

McCoy set countless records during his riding career, most notably posting an incredible 289 winners in the 2001-2 season - a feat which surpassed Sir Gordon Richards' long-standing record of 269 victories.

The Ulsterman secured another piece of history in 2010 when he became the first jockey to win the BBC Sports Personality of the Year following his success aboard Don't Push It in his 15th attempt at winning the Grand National.

McCoy was appointed MBE in the 2003 Queen's Birthday Honours and OBE in the 2010 Birthday Honours list.

He is only the second jockey in history to have been awarded a knighthood, with Sir Gordon Richards the first in 1953.

AP McCOY RACING CAREER BY NUMBERS:

Career winners: 4,358

Centuries: 20

Double centuries: 9

Champion jockey titles: 20

Total number of weeks as champion: 1,040

Most winners in a season: 289

Cheltenham Festival wins: 31

Cheltenham Gold Cup wins: 2

Grand National wins: 1