AP McCoy claims historic 4,000th career winner

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AP McCoy became the first jump jockey to ride 4,000 winners when he triumphed with the second of two rides at Towcester on Thursday.

The 18-time champion reached the unprecedented milestone on Mountain Tunes in the 15:10 GMT race.

"It was just amazing, it couldn't have worked out any better," said McCoy, 39. "Racing people are fantastic, they are so pleased for me."

McCoy was fifth on Church Fields in the earlier 14:10 GMT handicap hurdle.

He was particularly delighted to have secured the victory on a horse trained by Jonjo O'Neill and owned by JP McManus, both long-time friends in the racing industry.

"To do it for Jonjo and the McManus's is brilliant as they've been so good to me," he said. "It was always, hopefully, going to be in JP's colours.

"I've had the same agent, Dave Roberts, from day one and his Dad sadly passed away yesterday so I'd like to dedicate this to him.

"To have Chanelle (wife), Eve and Archie (children) here is great, and to do it in the McManus silks means a lot - Eve thinks they belong to me!"

McManus immediately embraced McCoy when he dismounted and said: "What a man and what a ride. I think he was more pleased because when he came in he said it was a nice horse!

"That ride sums him up. I remember when he first came to the UK. Christy Roche brought him to my attention and he said 'you know this AP, he's getting 7lb and he should be giving weight away'.

AP McCoy in numbers

"Little did we think that day that he'd ride 4,000 winners but full marks to him, he's dedicated to the game and he's a pleasure to have around, every day you deal with him is a joy."

McManus, who like many in racing was hit very hard earlier this year when jockey JT McNamara was hurt in a fall at Cheltenham that left him paralysed, added: "I think racing is a close-knit community, as evidenced by recent events, and AP is behind everything that is good.

"I'm so proud and pleased that I know him and his family, long may he carry on. It was nice that he wanted it to be in my colours, I'm choked that he did."

Rod Street, chief executive of Great British Racing, paid tribute to McCoy after his historic triumph and claimed he belonged in "sport's pantheon of greats".

"After all he's achieved in racing, AP was already a legend and this latest incredible achievement just confirms his position amongst sport's pantheon of greats," he said.

"If you were going to imagine the perfect ambassador for the sport, you would, only in your wildest dreams, dare to come up with AP - a man whose incredible talent is matched only by his unrelenting will to win and his phenomenal mental and physical toughness.

"He is the ultimate sportsman but also just an incredibly nice, funny and modest bloke.

"As a sport, we are incredibly lucky to have him."

McCoy's 3,999th win came at Chepstow on Wednesday after switching to Jonjo O'Neill's-trained Minella For Steak when original ride Mission Complete was declared a non-runner.

Listen to BBC Radio 5 live's AP McCoy special from 19:30 GMT on Thursday.

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148 comments

  • I just cannot believe trolls are on this thread already, please go back into your empty shell of a life and let real sport enthusiasts enjoy this moment.

  • Brilliant, so pleased for A.P. Jockey's should have more recognition in the sporting world, as the fantastic sportsmen they are. All of those who say it's the horse that does all the work, have obviously never been within a mile of a horse in their lives!

  • In a sport rarely recognised in the wider sports world for how skilful, dangerous and physically/mentally demanding it is, this is one hell of an achievement.

  • @8.BeesAreTrendy
    2 Hours ago
    I've always felt the horse does all the work whilst someone just sits on top.

    That is because you are a fool. Try seeing if you could arrange to jump a horse over a single fence, then get back to me from your hospital bed on just how easy it was.

  • AP McCoy, is a top class athlete, has an iron will to win, undiminished by time and so many serious injuries that would have seen lesser men call it time. This man deserves all the accolades. He is a true legend, not just in horse racing but within sport in general. And he is a nice guy as well.

  • So many cynical, negative comments.
    So it's all down to the horse, is it? There are almost countless races that A.P. has won when defeat was more likely.
    His will to win seems to transmit itself to the horse.
    They run for A.P; a master tactician who instinctively knows how to get the best out of every animal he rides.

    Detractors: Do you get followed by an ambulance every time you go to work?

  • 8. BeesAreTrendy

    Yes of course. Why dont you contact a stable and get yourself a ride. Come back here when you have managed 1 winner let alone 4,000!
    You cannot underestimate the skill and determination required in such a dangerous sport.

    Incredible achievement that may never be beaten.

  • What a legend - congrats AP!!!!

  • Seen AP ride a load of times, always gets the best out of the horse and he never gives up. If you see him ride you know the horses do it for him & love it, you can see it. He was going into the winners enclosure at Wetherby I said "well done" he turned around and said "thanks alot" (im nobody and he's a hero). true true gent of the turf, TOP MAN and all achieved through hard work and detrimination

  • What a guy! The toughest man in sport. An unbelievable achievement.

    BBC - I do wonder why you open any article up for comment. They've been ruined by moronic trolls who have absolutely no sports knowledge whatsoever.

  • How sad this achievement has recieved a trollfest of comments

    I have seen Tony win when I did not believe it was possible and the man tries every time. What a World we would live in if everybody tried like him

  • I don't agree with horse racing or the gambling industry in principle - seen too many people crushed by it, however, for AP to ride 4,000 winners is a marvelous achievement. In the days when I used to follow the sport, Peter Scudamore was the man, didn't think I'd live to see the day when somebody obliterated his 1,678 winners and eight championships.

  • It's hard to see how he's not the greatest jockey ever. Well done to AP McCoy. A class above the rest!

  • Great effort & not just the number of wins a very healthy win to ride % too

    Great judge of pace & positioning throughout a race

  • Usual nonsense mongers, more rubbish talked about sport than any other subject, why do the most ignorant sound most pleased with themselves, that ride sums the man up, power, technique, stamina, determination, greatest race rider ever under either code, genius and a gentleman, I would rather take the views of his peers and those within the sport as testament (why talk darts: sport:fact:get over it

  • What a fantastic achievement. It couldn't have happened to a nicer man...AP shows total dedication to the sport of National Hunt racing. Congratulations and well done AP!

  • Never been much of an AP fan as a rider but there is no disputing this great and never to be beaten achievement, well done AP!!

  • 42. jamesmathew

    Just so I know....Is there something wrong with you?? Really??

    Have you seen what a horse does when it dismounts a rider???

    It runs all over the place.

    Now for a guy at just over 10st to control a HORSE that is nearly HALF A TON!!!! To position it to a rail, to instruct it to jump a fence at the right time, to speed up at the end of a race.

    that to you is 1% of horse racing?

  • Jamesarthur, you are both an ignoramus and a troll.

    AP McCoy is a racing legend! Great that the 4000th displayed his trademark tenacity; times without number he has literally picked horses up and carried them to the win.

  • @38 "Please. If I weighed 5 stone Id be just as good."

    He weighs more that twice that. So well done (clap, clap)

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