Anthony Peter McCoy is a jockey who is also known by the nicknames of Tony McCoy or AP McCoy, or simply AP by commentators and other racing fans. He rode his first winning horse named “Legal Steps” at an Ireland race course at the young age of 17. So far in his over 30 year history, he has ridden over 3,860 winning horses. He has set a goal of riding over 4,000 winners before retiring from racing.

Biggest Wins

In one of the biggest wins of his career, Tony McCoy won the 2010 Grand National by riding “Don’t Push It” to victory. He’s won almost every major National Hunt race that can be won, including the King George VI Chase and the Cheltenham Gold Cup race. AP McCoy also was honoured to be named the BBC Sports Personality of The Year in 2010. He was the first jockey ever to win the award.

Tony McCoy is spoken of kindly by friends and racing associates and has been praised for being a very down-to-earth person and an easy person to get along with. Other riders, trainers and professionals see McCoy as one of the most talented jockeys that has ever been involved in the sport.

Falls

Having fallen many times in his career, McCoy has broken many bones and received numerous kicks, cuts, bruises and injuries. Each time he gets back up and returns to riding again. At the age of almost 40, he is older and has lasted longer than most counterparts in the sport.

He has been quoted in interviews as saying that he does not want to continue as a jockey for much longer. Stressing he never wants to get to the point where he is not riding as well as he has in the past. There is, however, that goal of 4,000 wins that he has his eye on.

Early Beginnings

McCoy showed an interest in horses and racing and his love of racing was clear in childhood, even before his first taste of winning at the young age of 17. Born on May 4, 1974 in Moneyglass in the County Antrim in Northern Ireland to parents Claire and Peader, Mc Coy also has five brothers and sisters. He is married to Chanelle. Together they have one daughter named Eve.

When Tony McCoy won the 2010 Grand National race, it was his fifteenth attempt to win. He was riding “Don’t Push It,” a horse owned by millionaire J.P. McManus, with whom he has formed an alliance since 2004. The horse was expertly trained by Jonjo O’Neill in a technologically advanced, cutting-edge training facility called “Jackdaws Castle” in Gloucestershire.