Tony McCoy, the 20-time champion National Hunt jockey who hung up his tack earlier this year, found the limelight shining on him once again Wednesday when it was announced he would receive knighthood in The Queen's New Year Honours list in recognition of his services to horse racing.
“It is an unbelievable privilege and honor to receive a knighthood in the New Year Honours List,” McCoy said. “I certainly wasn't expecting it.”
He added, “I consider myself lucky to have had a job I loved, every single day. The team around me made it possible for me to achieve my goals and the support from the public and racing community since my retirement has been overwhelming. A knighthood really tops off what's been a crazy and memorable year.”
McCoy becomes just the second jockey ever to receive knighthood, following Sir Gordon Richards in 1953. McCoy broke Richards's longstanding record of winners in a season in 2001/02 when he recorded 289 winning rides. Richards's record was 269.
Others knighted for their services to racing are trainers Sir Cecil Boyd-Rochfort, Sir Noel Murless and Sir Henry Cecil, and commentator Sir Peter O'Sullevan. Trainer Sir Michael Stoute received his knighthood in recognition of services to tourism in his native country of Barbados, while trainer Sir Mark Prescott is a hereditary baronet.
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