Tony McCoy retires: Emotion end for Champion Jockey as he finishes third on Box Office to bid farewell

The 20-time champion jockey brought his racing career to an end at Sandown

An emotional Tony McCoy after finishing third on Box Office in his final race (Eddie Keogh)

Eyes moist, Tony McCoy quietly dismounted, muttered a few words of gratitude and disappeared into the weighing room for the last time. He reappeared an ex-jockey. That expression will take some getting used to, as racing and beyond reflects on a career of agony, anguish, tears, glory, and, one suspects, remaining doubt at the wisdom of ending it all now.

The man who first imprinted his name on the turf in this country on a horse named Chickabiddy at Exeter approaching 21 years ago failed to end his career with a winner. Racing’s like that. So damned unobliging at times. But ultimately it didn’t really matter. The reception he was accorded for finishing third on the 5-2 favourite Box Office – appropriately-named given the vast crowd of racegoers who thronged the Surrey course in the hope of seeing the 20-times champion jockey sign off with a winner – was greater than most victors receive.

The racecourse was as littered with as many superlatives as betting tickets torn up by racegoers who had backed McCoy’s mount, placing their faith in the Northern Irishman to deliver on one of JP McManus’ horses.

Earlier, his weighing-room colleagues formed a guard of honour amid enormous cheers as the Arsenal supporter collected the champion jockey’s trophy for the final time, from former Gunners striker Ian Wright. He was serenaded with: “For he’s a jolly good fellow”.

Jockey's greet Tony McCoy as he prepares for his final ride (Getty Images)

That final ride on one of JP’s team, trained by Jonjo O’Neill, was highly significant to him. “That is the greatest privilege I’ve ever had, to wear the green and gold colours (of McManus). And that was why today had to be the way it was.”

In the week, he had admitted that yesterday would be difficult. Yesterday, he conceded that he had not slept – unusual for him. “I’m dreading it,” he had said. “It’s very difficult for a sports person to walk away while still performing.

Afterwards McCoy reflected: “The day’s been very good. I had a few moments when I walked in front of the stands on Box Office and I just felt very touched by it all. I’ve had a very privileged life and I’m going to miss what I do – or what I did.”

Forty-year-old McCoy finished with a tally of 4,357 winners, having earlier also finished third on Mr Mole behind winner Special Tiara in an event named after him, the AP McCoy Celebration Chase. McCoy has ridden in more than 16,000 races and suffered an estimated 1,000 falls in a remarkable career.

Tony McCoy on Box Office during his final ride before retirement (Getty Images)

He said: “I’ve seen the very tough side of this sport with colleagues being fatally injured and colleagues being severely injured as well so I feel lucky that I’ve been able to end my career relatively in one piece.

The suspicion is the women in his life, wife Chanelle and mother Claire, were influential in his decision to retire. But he knew well enough himself his luck could expire. .

Fellow jockey JT McNamara was paralysed from damage to a neck sustained at Cheltenham Festival two years ago. McCoy was a regular visitor to his bedside.

But there have been other factors. At 5ft 10in in his riding boots, McCoy has maintained a dietary regime that resembles something a zero-size model would embrace.

Jockeys congratulate Tony McCoy on his career as he retires from horse racing (Getty Images)

There was more than a touch of piquancy about the result of McCoy’s finale, though. It was won by Brother Tedd, a 9-1 shot, partnered by Richard Johnson. On 16 occasions Johnson been runner-up to McCoy the champion. Finally, he will get his chance at the title. McCoy has long maintained having Johnson in his rear-view mirror is part of what drove him.

Where does McCoy go next? Pundit, training racehorses, bloodstock? “I’m not qualified to do anything” Fireman? He was asked by Clare Balding on her TV show. “That’s a proper job,” he retorted. “And I’m not brave enough…”

He has admitted he’d like to start again in the saddle as the man with no name, or at least not AP McCoy sporting phenomenon.

McCoy celebrates being crowned Champions Jockey for the 20th straight year (Getty Images)

He’s still a young man with probably half his life ahead and body relatively in one piece. He could thrust himself into a relative mundane world, enter the habitat of normal people who don’t go about their business being followed by ambulances and have no need for protective bodywear and helmet. It will be very strange.

For McCoy and us.