Tony ‘AP’ McCoy: the most successful jump jockey of all time
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.
After 13 attempts and two consecutive third placings aboard Blowing Wind, McCoy finally achieved his ambition of winning the Grand National in 2010 riding Don’t Push It.
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.
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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.
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: Grand National, Cheltenham Gold Cup, King George VI, Queen Mother Champion Chase, Champion Hurdle
Emma, a graduate of Exeter University, joined H&H in 2011 from our sister title The Field. She hunts and events from her home county of Warwickshire and has written on topics as diverse as Badminton to ratting. She became team chasing editor in 2012, before leaving H&H in spring 2013 to spend more time with her horses.