AP McCoy third on Sandown swansong aboard Box Office
Saturday 25 April 2015 21:10, UK
Tony McCoy admitted it had been "one of the hardest days my life" as he returned to the unsaddling enclosure for the final time at Sandown on Saturday.
The 20-times champion jockey did not enjoy the fairytale finish so many would have wished for as he rode the final two mounts of his illustrious career, with Mr Mole claiming third in the bet365 AP McCoy Celebration Chase and Box Office finishing in the same place in the bet365 Handicap Hurdle.
The crowds cheered McCoy from the moment he entered the paddock to mount the 5-2 favourite, applauding him past the stands on the way to the start of the two-and-a-half-mile heat.
Another shout of approval heralded the start, with McCoy settling Box Office towards the rear in the early stages before he started to manoeuvre across the track as the race began in earnest.
However, despite travelling well three flights from home, the Jonjo O'Neill-trained runner found little under pressure and had to settle for a place behind Brother Tedd (9-1).
McCoy said: "There were tears on the way back from riding Box Office, I was trying to keep them in.
"This has been one of the hardest days of my life, but I needed it to be difficult, otherwise it would have meant I was not as good as I was.
"The day has been very good and very enjoyable. I had a few moments when I walked in front of the stands on Box Office.
"I am just so proud. The people have been amazing and I have just felt very touched by it all.
"I keep saying, as I have all day, that I have had a very privileged way of life and I am going to miss what I do.
"I always hoped that if I could retire on this day I would, as it is the last day of the season.
"I always hoped that I could be champion jockey, and thanks to the BHA (British Horseracing Authority) as they've let me keep the trophy.
"It has been in my house and I quite like looking at it. It sits there and it is something that has been my goal every day of my life.
"That was always my dream to walk away at the top. I wanted to get out while I was riding well and as champion jockey. If I could manage that I would feel a lot of achievement.
"I've seen the very toughest parts with colleagues being fatally injured and severely injured as well. I feel very lucky that I have ended my career in one piece.
"The lads we have lost along the way, I will never forget."
Probably the three best days in racing I had were on horses trained by Jonjo. Winning the Grand National on Don't Push It... Synchronised and Mountain Tunes... with JP we have a good team.
The 40-year-old's departure marks the end of his long domination of the National Hunt sphere, which yielded 31 Cheltenham Festival winners as well as two Gold Cups and one famous Grand National success.
McCoy bows out having dominated the jockeys' title for two decades, with the now-decommissioned trophy awarded for one final time before his ride in the bet365 AP McCoy Celebration Chase, in which he finished third aboard Mr Mole.
A total of 4,357 career winners have been banked since he first struck gold with Legal Steps at Thurles in March 1992, with Capard King giving him a final triumph at Ayr on April 17.
He has set reams of records during that time, most notably posting an incredible 289 winners in the 2001-2 season, surpassing Sir Gordon Richards' long-standing record of 269 victories in the process - a feat McCoy rates as his best.
He said: "I have been very lucky throughout my career - I've had so many highs.
"When I came to England, first I was lucky enough to be champion conditional and then lucky enough to be champion jockey ever since. As I said, the people that I worked for helped me achieve that.
"The late Billy Rock had me convinced from 12 years of age that I could make it as a jockey.
"I went to Jim Bolger's for four and a half years and that was great education and it was the making of me. There were times when I thought if I could ride or not.
"I went to Martin Pipe and he helped me achieve the numbers and getting me on that treadmill to want to better myself all the time.
"I broke Peter Scudamore's record for number of winners from a jump jockey. I then wanted to break Sir Gordon Richards' record and without Martin Pipe, I wouldn't have done that.
"He helped me keep improving and we had a lot of good days together with the likes of Cyfor Malta and Make A Stand.
"Since 2004 I have been lucky to ride for Jonjo O'Neill and JP McManus.
"Still, to this day, breaking Sir Gordon Richards' record will be the greatest achievement I ever make, purely in terms of numbers as his record was there for 55 years."
McCoy announced his decision to retire in February but admitted it had been only recently that his decision really began to sink in.
He said: "There were days I thought I was retiring and days I didn't.
"It was after Aintree that it was the first time that it really dawned on me that I had to accept that I was retiring and I've been trying to prepare myself with not going racing every day.
"I think it was best for me to do it that way, mentally, and I hope it was a good thing for the sport.
"I never thought for one moment that when I was ready to retire, I would walk away and come to Sandown and say that I am finished."
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![Tony McCoy with his wife Chanelle and children Eve and Archie after being presented with the Chamipon Jockey trophy]()
Image: Tony McCoy with his wife Chanelle and children Eve and Archie after being presented with the Chamipon Jockey trophy -
!['Sold Out' signs outside Sandown Park]()
Image: No further proof required that 'the champ' is box office with the 'Sold Out' signs up outside Sandown -
![Crowds queue outside Sandown Park]()
Image: Meanwhile, those with tickets form an orderly queue -
![Jockey Tony McCoy signs racecards during the bet365 Jump Finale at Sandown Racecourse, Surrey. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday April 25, 20]()
Image: AP McCoy signs racecards during the bet365 Jump Finale at Sandown -
![Sean Bowen wins the conditional jockey title]()
Image: He may not be 'the next McCoy' but Sean Bowen has made quite an impression and has won the conditional jockeys title -
![ESHER, ENGLAND - APRIL 25: Tony McCoy poses on his retirement day at Sandown racecourse on April 25, 2015 in Esher, England. (Photo by Alan Crowhurst/Getty]()
Image: AP McCoy looks into the future -
![ESHER, ENGLAND - APRIL 25: Tony McCoy poses on his retirement day at Sandown racecourse on April 25, 2015 in Esher, England. (Photo by Alan Crowhurst/Getty]()
Image: AP McCoy poses on his retirement day at Sandown -
![Liam Brady presents Tony McCoy with a special award]()
Image: Former Arsenal footballer Liam Brady presents the man of the moment with a special award -
![Tony McCoy]()
Image: There are more autographs to be signed..... -
![Paul Nicholls with his champion trainer trophy]()
Image: While Paul Nicholls gets his hands on the Champion Trainer trophy -
![Tony McCoy with his wife Chanelle, daughter Eve and son Archie]()
Image: It's a proud day for wife Chanelle, daughter Eve and son Archie -
![Tony McCoy leads Don't Push It]()
Image: There's time to catch up with his Grand National winner Don't Push It during the parade of champions -
![Eventual winner Lil Rockerfeller ridden by Sean Bowen (right) jumps the last with Sternrubin ridden by Richard Johnson in the bet365 Juvenile Handicap Hurd]()
Image: Eventual winner Lil Rockerfeller ridden by Sean Bowen (right) jumps the last with Sternrubin in the opener -
![Menorah Unioniste Home Farm]()
Image: The field take a fence in the Oaksey Chase -
![ESHER, ENGLAND - APRIL 25: Leighton Aspeil (R) rides Off The Ground to win The bet365 Oaksey Steeple Chase at Sandown racecourse on April 25, 2015 in Esher]()
Image: Favourite Menorah comes through to take the prize for Philip Hobbs and Richard Johnson for a second year -
![Tony Mcoy is given a guard of honour]()
Image: Tony McCoy is given a guard of honour before the Celebration Chase -
![Tony McCoy parades the Champion Jockey Trophy]()
Image: He parades the Champion Jockey Trophy -
![Special Tiara]()
Image: Special Tiara spoils the better and takes the Celebration Chase -
![Tony McCoy walks back in on Mr Mole after finishing third]()
Image: With Mr Mole only third -
![Just A Par (nearest)]()
Image: There's a thrilling conclusion to the Gold Cup won by Just A Par (nearest) -
![Box Office]()
Image: Box Office comes out onto the course under AP McCoy for the final time -
![ESHER, ENGLAND - APRIL 25: Tony McCoy pulls his goggles down at Sandown racecourse on April 25, 2015 in Esher, England. (Photo by Alan Crowhurst/Getty Imag]()
Image: The goggles are down -
![Box Office]()
Image: They're off and racing -
![Brother Tedd (grey)]()
Image: But the script hasn't been followed as Brother Tedd and Richard Johnson take the spoils with Box Office third -
![Tony McCoy waves to the crowd after his last race, the bet365 Handicap Hurdle during the bet365 Jump Finale at Sandown Racecourse, Surrey. PRESS ASSOCIATIO]()
Image: Tony McCoy waves to the crowd after his last race -
![Tony McCoy on Box Office as he becomes emotional following his last race, the bet365 Handicap Hurdle during the bet365 Jump Finale at Sandown Racecourse, S]()
Image: And, not surprisingly, becomes emotional -
![Tony McCoy with JP McManus and Jonjo O'Neill (right) after the bet365 Handicap Hurdle during the bet365 Jump Finale at Sandown Racecourse, Surrey. PRESS AS]()
Image: There's a post- race pose with JP McManus and Jonjo O'Neill -
![Tony McCoy with Ruby Walsh (left) and Andrew Thornton (right)]()
Image: And plenty more with weighing room colleagues...... -
![Tony McCoy with Martin and David Pipe]()
Image: .....and trainers both past and present
McCoy points to Don't Push It's Grand National victory in 2010 as one of the seminal moments of his career, along with Synchronised's 2012 Cheltenham Gold Cup win and his 4,000th success aboard Mountain Tunes at Towcester in 2013.
"Probably the three best days in racing I had were on horses trained by Jonjo," he said
"Winning the Grand National on Don't Push It (was one) as winning that meant I was lucky enough to be the BBC Sports Personality of the Year.
"That was down to Jonjo, as was Synchronised and Mountain Tunes. Those were good days and obviously with JP we have a good team.
"I went to Ireland numerous times not knowing what horses I was going to ride and (McManus' racing manager) Frank Berry, in fairness, never put me wrong.
"Riding the horses for JP was the greatest privilege I have ever had.
"I felt very privileged to riding my 4,000th winner wearing the green and gold colours - I had to finish my career riding for him.
"I've been so lucky with the horses I have ridden, they have been my first love."
He's the greatest man in the game. He's good to work with, a true professional . What I can say does not justify how great he is. We will not see the like of him again.
AP McCoy Factfile
Born: May 4, 1974.
Father: Peadar McCoy, bred County Hurdle winner Thumbs Up.
Apprenticeship: Four years with Jim Bolger - rode work on horses such as Irish Derby winner St Jovite and Oaks winner Jet Ski Lady.
First winner: Legal Steps at Thurles on March 26, 1992.
Joined Toby Balding at start of 1994-5 season after riding 13 winners (six on the Flat) in Ireland.
Joins Martin Pipe in 1996 - an association which lasted eight years.
Appointed retained rider for millionaire owner, JP McManus, at the end of the 2003-04 campaign.
First winner in Britain: Chickabiddy at Exeter on September 7, 1994.
Champion conditional jockey: 1994-5 with 74 winners - at the time a record for the number of wins by a conditional jockey (he finished seventh in the full jockeys' championship).
Lost right to claim when won on Romany Creek at Nottingham on February 28, 1995.
Beat Sir Gordon Richards' all-time record total of 269 winners in a season on Valfonic at Warwick on April 2, 2002.
Became all-time winning-most jumps jockey, beating Richard Dunwoody's record of 1,699, when winning on Mighty Montefalco at Uttoxeter on August 27, 2002.
Champion jockey: 1995-6, 1996-7, 1997-8, 1998-9, 1999-2000, 2000-1, 2001-2, 2002-3, 2003-4, 2004-5, 2005-6, 2006-7, 2007-8, 2008-9, 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13, 2013-14, 2014-15.
Best season: 289 winners in 2001-2
1,000th winner: Majadou, Cheltenham, December 11, 1999.
1,500th winner: Celtic Native, Exeter, December, 2001.
1,700th winner (new record): Mighty Montefalco, Uttoxeter, August 27, 2002.
Awarded MBE in 2003.
2,000th winner: Magical Bailiwick, Wincanton, January 17, 2004.
3,000th winner over jumps in Britain and Ireland: Restless D'Artaix, Plumpton, February 9, 2009.
4,000th winner over jumps in Britain and Ireland: Mountain Tunes, Towcester, November 7, 2013.
4,192nd winner over jumps in Britain and Ireland: It's A Gimme, Market Rasen, July 19, 2014. This took him past his old ally Martin Pipe's career total of winners.
Champion Hurdle winners: Make A Stand 1997, Brave Inca 2006, Binocular 2010.
Cheltenham Gold Cup winners: Mr Mulligan 1997, Synchronised 2012
Champion Chase winner: Edredon Bleu 2000.
King George VI Chase winner: Best Mate 2002.
Grand National winner: Don't Push It 2010.
Rode 150th winner at Cheltenham on Hills Of Aran January 1, 2008.
Awarded an OBE in June 2010.
Named BBC Sports Personality of the Year in December 2010.
Total career wins: 4,357
Last winner: Capard King at Ayr on April 17, 2015
Last ride: Box Office at Sandown on April 25, 2015
