Racing salutes legend AP McCoy after his Sandown retirement

The curtain came down on the career of AP McCoy at Sandown on Saturday and the racing world paid tribute to the record-breaking champion.

JP McManus, McCoy's patron since 2004

"He's an iron man and a lovely man. I've grown to love him more and more, as my family have. There's something deep and great about him."

Jonjo O'Neill, trainer

"AP is getting out at the right time, he is on top of his game and everybody will remember him as the greatest jockey. There is a time in everybody's life when you have got to change tune and do something else. He is obsessed, and you can't be that successful without doing the homework."

Dave Roberts, McCoy's agent

"He's changed racing as a jockey. The sport will miss him massively, so that's why I'm hoping people won't forget about him too quickly because there will never be another AP McCoy."

Nicky Henderson, trainer

"He's been a great ally, a great friend and a great competitor. What a lovely guy to work with. He's just the ultimate professional. We are going to miss him and racing is going to miss him. He's put racing on the front page and has brought this crowd here - that tells you everything."

Clare Balding, TV presenter

"I think it takes a tremendous amount of bravery to step away from something he loves doing when he's still the best at it. I admire him so much, making a decision which clearly hurts him. He has been, and will continue to be, sensational for racing and I hope we see lots more of him. He's set the standard so high, putting himself through the pain barrier. We are never likely to see anyone like him again."

John Francome, former champion jockey

"He has done what he has done by being completely and utterly determined. By and large he likes to make horses' mind up for them and that is what has set him apart from other jockeys."

Paul Nicholls, trainer

"To think he won't be riding any more is unbelievable. It's tough for everyone, him not being there, but he's done the right thing at the right time."

John Gosden, Flat trainer

"To have seen the sheer determination and the mental strength of AP (McCoy) is staggering in itself. To me I always called him titanium man and that is what I think he is."

Noel Fehily, jockey

"It's very sad to see him go. We have been very close for the last number of years and it's a sad day for racing."

Frankie Dettori, Flat jockey

"His consistency sets him apart from everyone else, and his anger. He is a great sportsmen and we won't see anyone like him for a while."

Graham Lee, Grand National-winning jockey

"His dedication, his stubbornness, his ability to go through the pain threshold - there's nothing more you can add. It's safe to say there'll never be another one like him."

Shirley Johnson, widow of owner David who enjoyed a long association with McCoy.

"He's a legend in his own lifetime, really. It's wonderful to be here to enjoy it. The three of them (McCoy, Johnson and trainer Martin Pipe) really enjoyed it the years he was racing with them."

Martin Pipe, former retained trainer

"We saw him riding in the west country and thought he looked OK so we gave him a few rides, he won on them and we just melted together well. We had great fun together, it really was, winning loads of races and we had great faith in each other. His feedback was enormous, unbelivable. He's the best jockey we've ever seen."

Ruby Walsh, jockey

"It's wonderful for a jump jockey to have ridden for as long as he has and to be able to retire on his own terms. It's incredible. He's been amazing. He's an incredibly tough guy mentally and he's very astute."

Willie Mullins, trainer

"He's a legend. He's an iron man. People are saying, 'Who'll replace him?'. It will take three men to replace him. He's been the best example of any sportman you can possibly have. He never saw defeat and he'd travel anywhere for a ride. To me, that's a fantastic thing to be able to do."

Jim Bolger, trainer and former mentor

"For Anthony it was good to get it (decision to retire) out there. He was a very young fellow when he came to me and I said all the rearing was done when he came to me. At no stage did he need any, or very little, tutoring. I just taught him how to count his money!"

Ted Walsh, trainer

"Tony McCoy set an example for every other jump jockey coming along. He improved the fitness levels, the dedication, the threshold for pain - everything about him. He's just an icon. We are all privileged to have witnessed him and been in his company. I knew him since he was 13 or 14 with the late Billy Rock and he's never changed a bit."

Barry Geraghty, jockey

"He's been around since I started and was always champion. I've watched him consistently raise the bar of excellence for our profession. From his day-to-day work ethic up and down the country, his drive and determination plus the physical deprivation of keeping his weight down. To ride 200-plus winners a season was a massive achievement which sets him apart. 'Relentless' is the word that always comes to mind. But AP has always been good to the young lads coming up, he always gives them time and never abuses his status."

David Pipe, trainer

"I have been privileged to play a small part in his career and to have known him personally and much as I will miss seeing his genius in the saddle."

Richard Johnson, jockey

"It will be quite weird not having him around. He's been a great friend and a great colleague for a long time. He's done his job really well and has been easy to work with. It will be sad to see him go. It's going to be sad not to have him around. He's a great loss to the weighing room."

Noel Meade, trainer

"He's been such a good rider, so dedicated. The work and the achievement and the hard graft he's put in all his life, it would be a shame if he went on too long and if something happened to him. I'm really thrilled for him. He's been a fantastic ambassador for the sport. He's such a nice guy and he's such a brilliant rider. I know it was probably a tough decision, but I'm sure it is the right one."

Tom Scudamore, jockey

"It surprised a few of us how he did it (announced in February at Newbury he was to retire), when he was coming back in. Since then there's been a lot of chat - it's been a pleasure chasing him round all these years! He's been a phenomenal sportsman and in and out of the saddle he's been a great ambassador for the sport and a fantastic man for racing. We had no inkling he was going to do it."

Dr Richard Newland, Grand National-winning trainer

"I can't say enough about him. Amazing jockey, terrific bloke."

Peter Scudamore, former champion jockey

"My admiration for him is unbelievable. For him to ride for more than 20 years and just stay sound is quite remarkable and at the level he has is quite extraordinary. AP's record speaks for itself. For him to be at the top, Flat or jump jockey, is quite extraordinary."

Adrian Maguire, former top jockey and now trainer

"He's just unbelievable. There were plenty of men before him, but he took jumps racing to another level. Everyone knew very early on he was something special and his dedication and appetite for it has never changed over the years. Despite all the success he stayed a nice fellow as well, which is great. When I first heard the news shock was the first feeling I had and then it was a feeling of sadness that the curtain was coming down on his career. I just wish him all the best for his life after racing."

Andrew Thornton, Gold Cup-winning jockey

"There were not many people AP didn't get on with. You really had to do something wrong. He is very easy going and approachable. If a young rider needs help he was always very free with his advice. Over the years he has learnt to relax and balance his life and learn it is not all about racing."

Chris Maude, McCoy's valet and former jump jockey

"It's extraordinary. Every now and again in a sport you get a freak, one that is fabulously good and probably never see the better again. I don't think we'll appreciate what we've witnessed for a few years. It's not going to be done again.

Steve Smith Eccles, former top jockey now jockey coach

"The man is phenomenal. Put it like this, if anybody had said to me when I was riding in my heyday that somebody can ride 4,000 winners in their career I would have called them an idiot. I would have said it would have been impossible to ride 3,000 winners, let alone 4,000. It is incredible what he has done . He has raised the bar for everybody coming into racing. Some records will never be broken and he has set one. I am glad I was born at a time which has allowed me to see this happen."

Andrea Atzeni, Flat jockey

"I don't follow jump racing that much but Tony McCoy is probably the greatest jockey I've seen. It's his strength in the saddle and dedication that sets him apart. After all the falls he has had I would have probably given up 20 years ago!"

Andrew Balding, trainer and nephew of Toby Balding, McCoy's first employer in England

"He's had such a wonderful career and I've been lucky enough to call him a friend since he first arrived, I've admired what he's achieved on the track hugely but he's also a great guy. We'll all be very sorry to see him leave but I'm sure another chapter will open up for him and he won't be lost to racing. There is no finer ambassador than AP and hopefully we can use him in some other way."

And on twitter... #thanksAP

Clare Balding, TV presenter (@clarebalding)

"So many people saying they hadn't realised how funny AP McCoy can be and he is. Just one more attribute of an incredible man. #McCoy."

Jimmy Bullard, former footballer and jungle celebrity (@jimmybullard)

"Good luck to the main man @AP-McCoy."

Terry McDermott, former Liverpool and Newcastle footballer (@TerryMac777)

"The word legend doesn't do this man justice... @AP-McCoy the best there ever will be!! #ThanksAP."

John Hartson, former Arsenal forward and Wales international (@JohnHartson10)

"Good luck today @AP-McCoy what a career you've had mate, Retiring at the top."

Chanelle McCoy, AP's wife (@mccoy-chanelle)

"#ThanksAP for all the wonderful memories over the last 18years together. You are a better man than you are a jockey. @AP-McCoy."

Andy Murray, Wimbledon-winning tennis player (@andy-murray)

"2 legends in British sport retiring this weekend... @AP-McCoy and @paulajradcliffe congratulations on amazing careers - enjoy retirement."

Michael Owen, former England international footballer (@themichaelowen)

"Congratulations @AP-McCoy on a truly magnificent career. Fitting that you bow out today on a horse called Box Office! #LegendOfRacing."

Mark Pougatch, TV presenter (@markpougatch)

"Few sports stars go out both at the very top & on their own terms. 'Always leave a party when you're enjoying it most' said my grandfather."

Alastair Stewart, ITV News (@alstewitn)

"Thanks to the great @AP-McCoy.When reminded he rode the most winners: 'Yes, but I rode more horses'. The modesty of the truly magnificent."

Andrew Tinkler, CEO of Stobart Group (@Andrew-Tinkler)

"Absolute legend simply the best #ThanksAP."

Phil Tufnell, former England cricketer (@philtufnell)

"You've given lots of people great memories, myself included. All the best for a long and happy retirement @AP-McCoy."

Michael Vaughan, former England cricket captain (@MichaelVaughan)

"Good luck @AP-McCoy .. Once last Gallop."

Dan Walker, Football Focus & BBC Radio 5 Live presenter (@mrdanwalker)

"Above all his epic achievements he is just a top bloke."

Celebrities from outside racing pay tribute

Arsene Wenger, Arsenal manager

"I would like to congratulate you AP on your outstanding career. It's absolutely exceptional what you have done and at Arsenal, who we know you support, we are inspired by that kind of dedication, quality and consistency that you have achieved in your career. Well done."

Dame Judi Dench, actress

"A winner. He's a winner. I can't imagine how he is going to feel, I must say, retiring from having such a kind of glittering career. He was born to ride a horse, he was born to win too. It's wonderful to meet him and be able to say to him, you're a legend."

Eddie Jordan, BBC Formula 1 presenter

"Tony McCoy, what can I say, you are absolutely beyond any doubt in any sport, a true legend. Absolutely in the top three of the world's greatest sportsman ever in my opinion. All those wins, those championships, all the people that you've ridden with. You've actually ridden one of my horses - sadly they weren't part of that winning 4,000 plus number that you've clocked up! But, Tony McCoy you're a legend".

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Arsenal footballer

"Congratulations on your retirement AP. If anyone deserves it, it's definitely you. Hopefully, if you're not riding as much you'll be able to get to the Emirates more and support the boys."

Ian Wright, former Arsenal player

"AP McCoy is made of something else altogether. For 20 years he has been at the top of his game, riding winners, week in week out. I can think of no other sportsman or woman who can match his record. Like the Arsenal team of 2003/04 he's proven that he truly is an invincible. It was an incredible honour to award him with his trophy for the final time on the day he retires."

Sir Tim Rice, lyricist

"I feel that AP is really in the Don Bradman class and as all cricket lovers will know, Don Bradman was so far ahead of anybody else that records almost became irrelevant, people were chasing to be number two and I think that's what AP has done in racing."

Gok Wan, celebrity stylist

"I just want to say congratulations on an incredible career. I've only known you a short amount of time but you are obviously one of the greatest sportsman that our country has ever seen. I love you."

Dermot O'Leary, television presenter

"When you meet sportsmen you realize they are a sort of breed apart when they're that successful. It's a fierce determination when you watch him."

Jo Brand, comedian

"Congratulations AP, I'm delighted for you. I've never been allowed on a horse for fear of injuring it but I'm so pleased for you because now you'll be able to have as many dinners as you want - and I recommend 12 in an evening!"

Lee Westwood, golfer

"I just wanted to congratulate you on what's been a fantastic career. You've had an incredible career, some fantastic wins. I was delighted for you when you won the Grand National. A true legend of the sport."

Alan Davies, comedian

"I understand that now you've retired you've been offered tickets for all the remaining (Arsenal) home games of the season. There's only three! Which at Arsenal equates to about 4,000 quid so it's not bad. You're a legend and good luck."