Champion jockey opens bar named in his honour at Exeter Racecourse

Champion jockey AP McCoy has said he is ‘delighted’ that Exeter Racecourse, where he rode his first ever winner on English soil in 1994, has renamed one of its bars AP’s, which he officially opened at a race meeting there on Tuesday.

The 18-times champion jockey and 2010 Sports Personality of the Year winner booted home Chickabiddy, who was trained locally on Exmoor by Gordon Edwards, to win some 19 years ago on September 7. The champion is now 20 winners away (correct Oct 24) from achieving a record breaking 4,000 winners under Rules.

Following the win, The Sporting Life newspaper ran the headline The Real McCoy, and journalist-turned-commentator Mike Cattermole said: “Chickabiddy’s win in the William Hill Diamond Jubilee Handicap Hurdle at Exeter yesterday introduced an up-and-coming rider in Tony (AP) McCoy. It was McCoy’s first success in Britain. But remember the name because the 20-year-old who recently joined Toby Balding, gave Chickabiddy (7-1) a cool and efficient ride to beat Just Rosie by a length.”

A P McCoy said: “I’m delighted that Exeter has renamed its bar in my honour. Exeter is where it all started on English soil when Chickabiddy won. The support I have received from Exeter over the years has always been incredible including erecting two huge roadside banners encouraging people to vote for me before the BBC’s Sport Personality of the Year.”

He added: “And I’ll be forever grateful for Gordon giving me the winner on Chickabiddy that’s for sure.”
AP’s has been decorated with McCoy memorabilia, including a photograph of Chickabiddy winning, and other major triumphs like his win on Don’t Push It in the 2010 John Smith’s Grand National.
General manager Tim Darby said: “It seems a fitting tribute to name our bar at Exeter after the greatest ever jump jockey of our era. AP McCoy is a true icon and we are very pleased that his name’s association with Exeter will carry on for many years to come.”

Gordon Edwards was also at Tuesday’s meeting where AP was presented with a picture of him winning on Chickabiddy at Exeter.
“It’s nice to think I’ve played a very small part in his career,” he said.

A P McCoy has ridden 17 winners at Exeter since 2009 and he landed the course’s most prestigious race, the Haldon Gold Cup, on Impek in 2006.
Bookmakers Coral has now opened a book on which course AP will ride his 4000th winner.

Ascot is the 4-1 favourite, with Haydock Park and Cheltenham at 7-1. Exeter is currently quoted at 33-1 and with meetings on November 5, November 13 and November 24 it could just be worth a small bet.