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Tony 'AP' McCoy: the most successful jump jockey of all time

Emma Sewell

11 February, 2009

Full name: Anthony Peter McCoy

Born: 4 May 1974

Nationality: Northern Irish

Height: 5ft 10"

Other interests: Football and golf

Family life: Married to Chanelle, with small daughter, Eve

First winner: 1992

Big race wins: Cheltenham Gold Cup, King George VI, Queen Mother Champion Chase, Champion Hurdle

To read our exclusive interview with AP McCoy, see 19 February 2009 issue of Horse & Hound

Tony McCoy videos

Career history

AP McCoy is the most successful jump jockey in the history of National Hunt racing. Born on 4 May 1974 in County Antrim, he had his first win at Thurles in March 1992 aboard the Jim Bolger-trained Legal Steps. Following his success in Ireland, McCoy took the decision to move to Toby Balding's yard in England in 1994, where his racing career really took off.

His first win on English soil came at Exeter in September 1994, riding Chickabiddy. From there he went on to record 74 winners that season and was champion conditional jockey at his first attempt.

Despite 13 attempts and two consecutive third placings aboard Blowing Wind, Grand National victory has so far eluded McCoy and remains a burning ambition. Despite this blip in his record, the 13-times champion jockey — a title he has retained year-on-year since 1995 — has broken every jump jockey record, including ones that he himself has set. He has won most of the major British jump races, including the Gold Cup and Champion Hurdle at the 1997 Cheltenham Festival.

Having recorded his 2000th win in 2004, and his 2500th in 2006, McCoy has smashed the 3000 barrier this season, securing another place in the record books.

A significant milestone in McCoy's career was breaking Sir Gordon Richards' 54-year-old record of 269 winners in a season. McCoy broke the record at Warwick on 2 April 2002, aboard Valfonic, and ended his campaign on 289.

In 2009, McCoy is owner JP McManus's retained jockey, after many years as stable jockey to Martin Pipe.

Winners:

2007-08 140

2006-07 184

2005-06 178

2004-05 200

2003-04 209

2002-03 256

2001-02 289

British Horseracing Board

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