Tony McCoy
Tony McCoy
Sir Anthony Peter McCoy OBE, commonly known as A. P. McCoy or Tony McCoy, is a Northern Irish former horse racing jockey. Based in the UK and Ireland, McCoy rode a record 4,358 winners, and was Champion Jockey a record 20 consecutive times, every year he was a professional. He stands 1.78 m, taller than most jockeys...
NationalityIrish
ProfessionHorse Jockey
Date of Birth4 May 1974
CountryIreland
few hours lose pounds spend starve themselves uncommon weight
It will not surprise you to learn that it is not uncommon for jockeys who struggle with their weight to starve themselves and spend hours in the sauna to lose a few pounds to be able to make a big-race ride.
bath draining exhausting experience few injury lengthy periods pounds shed sides spending tough
There are many tough sides to being a jockey. Injury is something we all dread, but spending lengthy periods in the bath or the sauna just to shed a few pounds can be an exhausting and draining experience.
work
I like challenging myself. I'm not a person who likes not to work.
life love lucky position privileged work
I'm very lucky to live my life through a sport that I love. I'm in a very privileged position that my work is my hobby.
love lucky money work
I'm very lucky that I love what I do. I've never thought of it as work. I've never done it for the money.
officially written
I never had a written contract, was never officially a stable jockey.
gets known race ride since time win
I've known he would win this race since Christmas. He just gets better every time I ride him." ()
die doctors err push side
Doctors are fantastic, but they err on the side of caution. But you can push yourself. You're not going to die from pain.
good ridden
I've ridden 3,651 winners, if that's any good to you. I don't count the falls. I count the winners.
days eight however jockey minutes national race run takes winners
The National is about however long it takes to run that race - eight minutes of fame - but champion jockey is about racing 365 days a year. I actually wouldn't swap any of my winners for the National.
matter riding
No matter how long I go without riding winners, I know in the back of my head that I can ride.
absolutely although amazing born few john met mile playing remember seeing willie within
I've met Willie John a few times. He was born within a mile of where I was born, and I know he's an absolutely amazing man, although I don't remember seeing him playing rugby, unfortunately." ()
champion class difference expect field horse hurdle last small won
The small field should not make a difference to him and it was a small enough field when he won it last year. He's a class horse as you would expect for a Champion hurdle winner." ()
along great maybe people sports taste
Racing is a great sport, but we need people to come along and see that for themselves. Maybe they're not used to going racing or haven't been before, but I think people get a taste for it; they do come back.