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Sports Minister congratulates horse racing legend

Monday, 10 August 2009

Sports Minister, Nelson McCausland, has congratulated horse racing legend Anthony P McCoy MBE (Tony McCoy) on his achievement in winning over 3,000 National Hunt races.

The Minister hosted a special reception for Mr McCoy at Parliament Buildings where family and friends joined with the horse racing fraternity in celebrating his achievements.

Speaking at the reception the Minister said: “Anthony McCoy is a man who lives for horse racing and his achievement in winning 3,000 National Hunt races is phenomenal.

Anthony rode his first winner when he was just 17, the “Legal Steps” at Thurles and from that point has just kept on winning. In 1997 he completed the Cheltenham Festival Double winning both the Champion Hurdle and the Gold Cup in 1997

“Anthony has rewritten the history books and has been Champion Jockey 14 times, Jump Jockey of the Year 12 times and won a record 289 winners in one season. This achievement has not come without some pain, and Anthony has broken almost every bone in his body, but has always come back to compete. He rode his 3,000th winner 'Restless D'Artaix' in the Tyser & Co Beginners’ at Plumpton in February this year.

“Anthony is already the leading jump jockey this season with 70 wins and has few targets left to chase but is still focused on winning the Grand National one day. Such is the drive of this determined, exceptional sportsman – always looking to win the next race.”

Notes to Editors:

1. Anthony Peter "A.P." McCoy is from Moneyglass, County Antrim. He was awarded the MBE in 2003.

2. Achievements of Anthony McCoy MBE

· Champion Jockey: 1995/6, 1996/7, 1997/8, 1998/9, 1999/2000, 2000/1, 2001/2, 2002/3, 2003/4, 2004/5, 2005/6, 2006/7, 2007/8.

· Lester Awards:

. Conditional Jockey of the Year: 1995.

. Jump Jockey of the Year: 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007.

. Jockey of the Year: 1997 (award discontinued after 1997).

· Best season: 289 winners in 2001/2 (a British record, beating the record of Sir Gordon Richards set 55 years previously).

· 1,000th winner: Majadou, Cheltenham, December 11, 1999.

· 1,500th winner: Celtic Native, Exeter, December, 2001.

· 2,000th winner: Magical Bailiwick Wincanton, 17 January 2004.

· 3,000th winner: Restless D'Artaix on 9th February 2009

· Champion Chase winner: Edredon Bleu 2000.

· Champion Hurdle winners: Make A Stand 1997, Brave Inca, 2006.

· Cheltenham Gold Cup winner: Mr. Mulligan, 1997.

· Equalled the record with five winners at the 1998 Cheltenham Festival.

· King George winner: Best Mate 2002.

· Irish Grand National winner: Butler's Cabin, 2007.

3. Media enquiries should be addressed to the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure Press Office. Tel (028) 9051 5047 or email press.office@dcalni.gov.uk. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.