You don't know what you've got till its gone - Tony McCoy Retires From Racing

AP on Clare Balding show tonight and ML tomorrow am, tbh I'm getting a bit fed up with it now it's gone over the top and AP's coming over as a bit of a drama queen.
 
When his days have been so full and so intense for so long, and you combine that with the focus and sheer bloody mindedness and will to win, there is going to be a huge hole in his life.

I suspect he won't be good with time on his hands and unless he quickly finds something to fill the time, and something else that deals with the craving to be competitive he will find retirement really tough.

What's he going to do that not only deals with the competitive side, the adrenaline Rush that comes with it, but he can also be the very best at? Nothing basically. So he's going to have a tough year or two I suspect.
 
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I'm not a particularly emotional man but AP's franknesss ths morning, especially his tribute to Dave Roberts, brought a tear to my eye.

A true legend that I'll be eternally grateful to for the wonderful memories.

But all that said, Reet sums it up well.
 
I wasn't going to watch AP on the Clare Balding show last night as I'm getting fed up of seeing one or other of them every time I turn the telly on, but it happened to be on and I actually stopped what I was doing to watch it. He was incredibly funny; a side of McCoy that I've never seen before. That humour might just get him through all this. I have been likening him to Richard Dunwoody but I think McCoys life has more depth to it [no slur on Dunwoody by the way] and having children stops you turning too inwards on yourself.
 
Maruco said:
sums up perfectly why AP's the the best we've ever seen.
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i guess it's all how you define 'best'

definitely one who got the best out of his abilites and worked himself harder than anyone to achieve what he did

not the most talented rider though of his generation though
 
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JamesRB said:
not the most talented rider though of his generation though
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the TF article would suggest otherwise really

at the end of the day..what are we talking re talent?..how are you going to judge someone as better than him?..what criterion would you use?

there is no other jockey ever going to achieve what he has that is for sure on the track...he also has a popularity that no other jock including Lester has got near

he doesn't ponce about like some jocks..but that doesn't make someone more talented just because they may look more stylish
 
EC1 said:
the TF article would suggest otherwise really

at the end of the day..what are we talking re talent?..how are you going to judge someone as better than him?..what criterion would you use?

there is no other jockey ever going to achieve what he has that is for sure on the track...he also has a popularity that no other jock including Lester has got near

he doesn't ponce about like some jocks..but that doesn't make someone more talented just because they may look more stylish
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Couldn't agree more.
 
The TF article is flawed, as most statistical analyses are. The stats that have been chosen are limited - you can't for example, draw statistical comparisons with jockeys whose bread and butter work isn't included because it doesn't take place in the UK (e.g. Geraghty and Walsh). Stats can't possibly take into account the differences in approach to riding and to careers.

My view is that AP is the greatest but not necessarily the best, the two are not the same and the second, IMO, is a) more subjective and b) harder to define.
 
Muttley said:
The TF article is flawed, as most statistical analyses are.
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and so are opinions based on a few memories/biases floating about in people's heads..i'd rather see something actually based on reality when assessing something than half a dozen opinions based on very little fact

the article is excellent really..its shows that no matter what the horse..there is no one better than AP at getting the best out of a horse

what do we actually want from a horse if we own or back it?..what is the most compalined about thing about jocks..its poor rides...so a jock who delivers to a near computer profile must be the ideal jockey surely?..what more can a jockey deliver than what AP has for 20 years?..thats 20 years..not some 6 month period when a flavour of the month performance that suddenly misleads punters into believing a jock is really good..20 odd years of consistent eeking out the best in a range of animals

i've never heard an owner...or punter say...oh yes he lost ...but wasn't the jockey stylish?... even though he didn't get the best out of the horse.

If anyone has seen a jock get the best out of horses..some extremely poor ones... for 20 years..break every record we believed it wasn't possible to break..then it may be best to list said jockeys..i'd be very interested to see who they are
 
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Today, I don't really care who is "best" or "most talented" or whatever. Today, for me, is the day to pay tribute unconditionally to one of the most successful sportsmen of all time, one of the best ambassadors racing has ever had, one of the few true household names the sport has left. AP being champion jockey has been a constant for almost half my life and racing won't be the same without him. And having had the privilege of meeting him more than once, he's a gent to boot.

Thanks for the memories, champ.
 
He's a legend, no two ways about it. Also a true gent and genuinely nice bloke. He rode for me once when I was involved in my last horse and he's just a good lad, humble, likeable with a rye sense of humour.

He will be greatly missed.
 
Many thanks for the winners Champ, some fantastic rides where you looked well beaten but ended up winning. Great man and just hope he can remain heavily involved with racing. BHA give the man a job :D
 
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