AP McCoy made the shock announcement live on Channel 4 this afternoon that he would retire at the end of the season. The 19 time Champion Jockey surprised everyone it seems by making the announcement moments after leading home his 200th winner of the season at Newbury.
I want to go out at top, I want to go out as champion jockey and it will be my 20th year if I can win the jockeys’ championship. I want to go out while I still enjoy riding and am still relatively at the top.
At the top he definitely is. And if that was in any doubt, the sheer number of people taking to social media to pay tribute to McCoy is testament to the fact that his ability in the saddle has transcended the racing fraternity.
Hard to imagine racing without @AP_McCoy. Not sure we will ever see another quite like him.
— Dan Walker (@mrdanwalker) February 7, 2015
If you get a chance to go racing between now & the end of the season, do; take the chance to see the greatest jockey of all time @AP_McCoy
— Mark Pougatch (@markpougatch) February 7, 2015
End of an era
How 'Iron Man' champion jockey AP McCoy became a horse racing legend http://t.co/H4Ndp7l6Sq pic.twitter.com/46tVsDOcsH— Francis Keogh (@HonestFrank) February 7, 2015
OH MY GOSH. THE AMAZING AP MCCOY TO RETIRE FROM RACING AT END OF SEASON #champion
— Hayley O'Connor (@hayleyboconnor) February 7, 2015
Racing next season will not be the same without the Champ @AP_McCoy #Legend
— Fergus McFadden (@fergmcfadden) February 7, 2015
Betting suspended on BBC Sports Personality Of The Year as we have been flooded with support for #APMcCoy @Channel4Racing @AP_McCoy
— Liam Glynn (@GlynnerLiam) February 7, 2015
Some people reacting to McCoy's retirement as if a death/loss. It's a celebratory moment. Sporting legend retires in one piece & on a high
— Simon Clare (@SiClare) February 7, 2015
The word Legend is said too often at times but AP mcCoy is a True Racing Legend & One of the Greatest sportsmen ever #HappyRetirementChamp.
— Mark (@mark_elwell) February 7, 2015
The irony that he then fell from his mount Goodwood Mirage roughly half an hour after announcing his retirement wasn't lost on anyone.
The announcement has thrown McCoy, quite literally over the first fence #Newbury #ManDown
— #Royals1871 (@CalvinRFC1871) February 7, 2015
