I was told once or twice with our new sports blog to stay relevant and do pieces which are current. Bear with me then while I go right off track. I write about a man (I think he’s human) who hasn’t appeared in a paper since Punchestown or Aintree at the end of last season, other than his much deserved OBE and the regular coverage in the Racing Post. Trust me to cover a jumps jockey whose main time in the limelight is in winter and spring. I do it for a reason. I still feel people outside ‘racing’ think A.P. McCoy won the BBC Sports Personality of the Year because of a campaign within racing for all to vote and maybe not on merit. It may be true that the racing community; bookmaker to broadcaster, stable hand to steward and punter to pundit all got behind A P McCoy for SPOTY. It was a unique moment when racing were united, such is the overwhelming appreciation of the man within the sport.
I would strongly argue however McCoy won SPOTY on merit. The 15 times champion jockey is loved though not for his major victories, but for the relentless success he pursues and achieves all through the year, even in the quiet summer days of national hunt racing. I bring the subject of McCoy’s brilliance to the fore now because I feel he does not get the recognition for his day to day supremacy. A.P.’s genius is not lost on betting shop punters and those who work in the industry full time. They see his work most days. McCoy works to the joy of punters, the detriment of bookies and often provides the highlight of the day with another great ride. The common conversation, ‘how did he win on that?’
