Sir Anthony Peter McCoy, better known as AP McCoy, is one of the greatest jockeys of all time. There are few people in any sport as decorated as the Northern Irishman, who was named Champion Jockey a record 20 consecutive times.
For anyone who wants to make it to the top in jump racing, McCoy is one of the most inspiring figures in the sport. But what was it that made him so successful? And why has he endured as a legend way beyond his retirement?
AP McCoy One of the Greatest Ever
It’s difficult to think of anyone that can come close to McCoy in terms of racing success, with the jockey riding more than 4000 winners across his glittering career. Indeed, if you look through any sport, that level of excellence and consistency is hard to find. McCoy can be compared to the likes of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo – a GOAT of his sport.
It’s no surprise that McCoy has been immortalized in a wide range of media, like horse racing slots, with AP McCoy Sporting Legends dedicated to the star’s career. The slots industry often pays tribute to stand out legends in sport, and games like this allow them to live on in the public sphere many years after their retirement.
McCoy has also spent a lot of time building his brand in other ways to ensure that people remember him and new horse racing fans can still discover him. He transitioned well into punditry on ITV Racing after his retirement and has also endorsed various brands to get his name around more.
Relentless Work Ethic Beats Raw Talent
For anyone looking to get to the top in jump racing, McCoy’s relentless work ethic should provide a lot of inspiration. Raw talent isn’t essential to become a winner, but the refusal to give up is. One of the things that made McCoy such an icon on the track was the fact that he would never ease off, even in routine contests. He constantly pushed for more and tried to improve on his previous performances.
Part of this process was in realizing that each small win counted to a bigger goal – becoming the best in the business. McCoy ruthlessly sought this status, and anyone wanting to succeed in horse racing needs to adopt a similar mindset. Keeping impeccably fit, riding in any conditions, and analyzing past rides are all part of the process.
Embracing Rivalry
Sometimes, rivalry can help forge the greats in sport. When thinking of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, or Ronaldo and Messi, you have to wonder whether they would have been quite so good if they hadn’t had their rivalries to spur them on. The same can be said with McCoy, who was always in competition with another great, Ruby Walsh.
For anyone wanting to mirror McCoy’s success and make it to the top, it’s important to look for rivalries and embrace them. You should always be searching for someone who’s better than you and trying to figure out what makes them so great.
Budding jump racers have a few legends that they can turn to for inspiration, and it’s hard to not feel influenced by McCoy. The 51-year-old retired around a decade ago, but he still lives on in horse racing and acts as a figure for others to live up to.
