Tomorrow sees Tony McCoys last ride as a jockey. He has been 20 times Champion jockey: He has fallen an estimated 1,000 times from horses weighing half a tonne, travelling at speeds of up to 30mph.
"He is made of concrete - they don't make people like AP McCoy any more," said friend and rival Ruby Walsh in the build-up to McCoy becoming the first jockey to be named BBC Sports Personality of the Year, in 2010. McCoy's toll of injuries is sobering - he's broken both collarbones, shoulder blades, his lower and middle vertebrae, ribs, cheekbones, a leg, ankle, arm and wrist. He has punctured his lungs, chipped teeth and even dislocated his thumb. For a full list of his injuires and what makes him so great have a read of the BBC tribute here; http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/horse-racing/24819388
For my part I have been lucky enough to meet the great man a couple of times, and like many have found him nothing but a true professional, whilst committed and unfailingly polite to everyone from the stable lads to the owners and breeders. All of us could tell our legendary AP tales whether it is the wins from when it simply was not possible to his sheer will to win. He once took over from me and rode Lowlander, the horse pictured below, at Fontwell. I will remember our conversation after the race for a long time. He is right to retire at the top. We will never see the like of him again. Wish I was there at Sandown tomorrow but will watch his final bow on iplayer.
