Steeplechase rider A.P. McCoy calling it a career

The record-breaking career of steeplechase jockey A.P. McCoy will come to an end at Sandown Park outside of London on Saturday.

McCoy, 40, the winningest jockey in steeplechase history with more than 4,340 victories, announced his retirement in February and has chosen Saturday’s seven-race program as his final day. Saturday’s program marks the end of the 2014-15 British steeplechase season.

Among McCoy’s mounts on Saturday is Mr Mole, the 7-year-old gelding he rode to victory at Newbury in February for his 200th win of the season. While being interviewed after the race aboard Mr Mole, McCoy surprised television viewers by announcing his retirement this spring.

Mr Mole will run in a race named in McCoy’s honor – the A.P. McCoy Celebration Chase over two miles. Thursday, Mr Mole was the early 10-3 favorite for the McCoy Celebration Chase along with Sprinter Sacre, the winner of the 2013 Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham.

A native of Northern Ireland, McCoy won aboard Don’t Push It in the 2010 Grand National at Aintree Racecourse. He won 31 races at the Cheltenham National Hunt Festival, including two winners of the Cheltenham Gold Cup - Mr Mulligan in 1997 and Sychronised in 2012.