Jockey AP McCoy has his sights set on the final few races of his career after announcing he will retire from horse racing at the end of the season.
The greatest jockey of all time? —
Jockey AP McCoy has his sights set on the final few races of his career after announcing he will retire from horse racing at the end of the season.
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The jump jockey has been victorious in virtually every race imaginable since picking up his first winner as a 17-year-old in Ireland in 1992.
The greatest jockey of all time? —
The jump jockey has been victorious in virtually every race imaginable since picking up his first winner as a 17-year-old in Ireland in 1992.
He has ridden in every type of weather on every surface imaginable during a career in which he has ridden a record 4,300 winners and climbing.
The greatest jockey of all time? —
He has ridden in every type of weather on every surface imaginable during a career in which he has ridden a record 4,300 winners and climbing.
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Since turning professional, he has won the national hunt jockey title every single season. He remains on target for his 20th straight title this season.
The greatest jockey of all time? —
Since turning professional, he has won the national hunt jockey title every single season. He remains on target for his 20th straight title this season.
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But it is a career that has not been without its perils, McCoy breaking almost every bone in a series of nasty falls.
The greatest jockey of all time? —
But it is a career that has not been without its perils, McCoy breaking almost every bone in a series of nasty falls.
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He estimates he has fallen over 1,000 times in all, including on this occasion at the prestigious annual Grand National.
The greatest jockey of all time? —
He estimates he has fallen over 1,000 times in all, including on this occasion at the prestigious annual Grand National.
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It was a race that had eluded him until 2010, when he guided Don't Push It to his one and only win in the big April race at Aintree.
The greatest jockey of all time? —
It was a race that had eluded him until 2010, when he guided Don't Push It to his one and only win in the big April race at Aintree.
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He is also a two-time winner of the Cheltenham Gold Cup, seen by many as the pinnacle of jump racing, his most recent win on Synchronised in 2012.
The greatest jockey of all time? —
He is also a two-time winner of the Cheltenham Gold Cup, seen by many as the pinnacle of jump racing, his most recent win on Synchronised in 2012.
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His racing commitments take him the length and breadth of the UK and Ireland on a weekly basis but such travels are now drawing to a close.
The greatest jockey of all time? —
His racing commitments take him the length and breadth of the UK and Ireland on a weekly basis but such travels are now drawing to a close.
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His main backer has been the bookmaker JP McManus, who has McCoy on a retainer estimated to be about $1.5 million a year.
The greatest jockey of all time? —
His main backer has been the bookmaker JP McManus, who has McCoy on a retainer estimated to be about $1.5 million a year.
Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images
McCoy celebrates with his wife Chanelle and children Eve and Archie after being the first jump jockey past the 4,000 winners mark.
The greatest jockey of all time? —
McCoy celebrates with his wife Chanelle and children Eve and Archie after being the first jump jockey past the 4,000 winners mark.
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That led to a wall of celebration at Cheltenham Racecourse where racegoers were encouraged to write their own well wishes.
The greatest jockey of all time? —
That led to a wall of celebration at Cheltenham Racecourse where racegoers were encouraged to write their own well wishes.
Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images
A keen golfer, he had the chance to play with Tiger Woods in 2010, Woods reportedly astounded by the number of career injuries McCoy had sustained.
The greatest jockey of all time? —
A keen golfer, he had the chance to play with Tiger Woods in 2010, Woods reportedly astounded by the number of career injuries McCoy had sustained.
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But increasingly McCoy had begun pondering the prospect of retirement and discussed it with McManus and his wife recently before coming to his decision.
The greatest jockey of all time? —
But increasingly McCoy had begun pondering the prospect of retirement and discussed it with McManus and his wife recently before coming to his decision.
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It was a decision announced live on television at Newbury Racecourse leading to a litany of tributes from the horse racing community.
The greatest jockey of all time? —
It was a decision announced live on television at Newbury Racecourse leading to a litany of tributes from the horse racing community.
Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images
With the sun setting on an illustrious career, he still has some race wins targeted before he finally calls time on his period of dominance in the saddle.
The greatest jockey of all time? —
With the sun setting on an illustrious career, he still has some race wins targeted before he finally calls time on his period of dominance in the saddle.
Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images