McCoy has few records left to break

McCoy was honoured for a prolific career which has seen the all-conquering Ulsterman tear up most of horse racing's record books.

"Obviously it's a great honour to be recognised in this way," said McCoy.

"But I feel it's not just an honour for me but an honour for the whole of jump racing."

McCoy burst on to the scene in 1994-95, when he became champion conditional jockey in his debut season in Britain with 74 winners.

His notable landmarks include the most successful season in history with an amazing 289 winners in 2001-02.

In 1998 McCoy had a record-equalling five winners at the Cheltenham Festival on Champleve, Unsinkable Boxer, Edredon Bleu, Cyfor Malta and Blowing Wind.

He reached a career total of 1,000 winners in December 1999 - more than five years quicker than the previous best - and his 1,500th came just two years later.

ANTHONY PETER MCCOY Born: 4 May 1974 1992: First winner on Legal Steps at Thurles 1994-95: Champion conditional jockey Apr 2002: Beat record of 269 winners in a season Aug 2002: Set record for most jumps winners Champion jockey: 1995-96, 1996-97, 1997-98, 1998-99, 1999-2000, 2000-01, 2001-02, 2002-03

McCoy overtook Sir Gordon Richards' record seasonal tally of 269 on Valfonic for his boss Martin Pipe at Warwick last April.

And his victory on Mighty Montefalco at Uttoxeter on 27 August made him the leading rider of all time over jumps.

The record had belonged to the now-retired three-time champion Richard Dunwoody, whose total stood at 1,699 and was achieved in a career spanning 16 years.

McCoy now has few targets left on the track, save for two burning ambitions - to ride 300 winners in a season and to land the Grand National.

All the other big races have come his way in a glittering career, including the Cheltenham Gold Cup, Champion Hurdle and the Queen Mother Champion Chase.

The nearest he has come so far in the National is two third-place finishes aboard Pipe's Blowing Wind.