Tuesday, September 17, 2019 – The McCoys, the awards which recognise excellence in Jump Racing, will be presented for the third time at Cheltenham Racecourse on the evening of Friday, September 27.
Established in 2017, The McCoys are named in honour of the most successful Jump jockey of all-time, Sir A P McCoy.
Sir A P McCoy rode a record 4,358 Jump winners during his career and was champion Jump jockey in Britain an unprecedented 20 times. He retired from the saddle on the final day of the 2014/15 season at Sandown Park.
The main event partner of The McCoys is once again Dodson & Horrell, Europe’s leading horse feed manufacturer.
In determining winners at The McCoys in 2019, performances at all Jockey Club Racecourses that stage Jump racing are taken into consideration for the time period of May 5, 2018 through to April 27, 2019. The Jockey Club Racecourses that stage Jump racing are Aintree, Carlisle, Cheltenham, Exeter, Haydock Park, Huntingdon, Kempton Park, Market Rasen, Sandown Park, Warwick and Wincanton.
The McCoys awarded to the Leading Owner, Leading Trainer, Leading Jockeys (Professional, Conditional and Amateur), plus the Leading Horses (Novice Hurdler, Hurdler, Novice Chaser and Chaser) are judged on the number of wins, with countback on places in the event of a tie. The winners at The McCoys this year for these categories are listed below.
Final standings for each category can be found online here.
The remaining winners at The McCoys are determined by a panel of judges and will be revealed on September 27 before an audience of 480 in The Centaur at Cheltenham Racecourse.
The panel of judges in 2019 is comprised of Henrietta Knight, trainer of the three-time Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Best Mate, journalist Chris Cook of The Guardian, Cheltenham Racecourse's Head of Racing and Clerk of the Course Simon Claisse and Sir A P McCoy.
Winners at The McCoys in 2018 included Nicky Henderson, Tiger Roll, Native River, JP McManus and Harry Skelton.
A full list of winners for the first two years of The McCoys can be found online here.
NB: When The McCoys were first staged in 2017, only performances at Jockey Club Racecourses in the South West Region were taken in consideration when determining winners.
Ian Renton, Cheltenham and South West Regional Director for Jockey Club Racecourses, commented: “The McCoys were a great success when first staged in 2017 and last year’s awards saw us take a further step forward when performances at all Jockey Club Racecourses were taken into consideration.
“I think it is fair to say that Jump racing lacked a showpiece awards ceremony before the advent of The McCoys and the format of the awards is unique in that it rewards such a wide spectrum of people including owners, trainers and jockeys. The McCoys also recognise the absolutely vital role of stable staff along with the potential stars of the future from Pony Racing.
“Hosting The McCoys in early autumn, just as the Jump season is about to begin in earnest, fits perfectly into the calendar and we once again look forward to welcoming this year’s contenders to Cheltenham Racecourse on September 27.
“I would like to extend our thanks to all our sponsorship partners, headed by Hodson & Dorrell, for their generous support.”
- LEADING OWNER SPONSORED BY ROSCONN GROUP
Four or more horses - J P McManus
Three or fewer horses - Patricia Pugh
- LEADING TRAINER SPONSORED BY BEACH INDEPENDENT FINANCIAL ADVISORS
More than 40 horses - Paul Nicholls
Less than 40 horses - Tom Lacey
- LEADING PROFESSIONAL JOCKEY SPONSORED BY MAGNERS
Richard Johnson
- LEADING CONDITIONAL JOCKEY SPONSORED BY HAI AIR
Bryony Frost
- LEADING AMATEUR JOCKEY SPONSORED BY HAI AIR
Mr Sam Waley Cohen
- FREQUENT RUNNER SPONSORED BY EQUI-TREK
Less than 40 horses - Jeremy Scott
More than 40 horses - Colin Tizzard
- LEADING NOVICE HURDLER SPONSORED BY NAF
Dyliev
- LEADING HURDLER SPONSORED BY NAF
Paisley Park
- LEADING NOVICE CHASER SPONSORED BY HARRISON CLARK RICKERBYS SOLICITORS
Defi Du Seuil
Coopers Square & Goodnight Charlie also finished on the same number of wins and placings but the award goes to Defi Du Seuil on account of two wins at G1 level
- LEADING CHASER SPONSORED BY HARRISON CLARK RICKERBYS SOLICITORS
Frodon
- HORSE PERFORMANCE OF THE SEASON SPONSORED BY NAF
to be announced on September 27
- PONY RACING ACHIEVEMENT OF THE SEASON SPONSORED BY SCUDAMORE RACING
to be announced on September 27
- JUDGES CHOICE SPONSORED BY WO LEWIS
to be announced on September 27
- RIDE OF THE SEASON SPONSORED BY NATURAL GREEN
to be announced on September 27
- HORSE OF THE SEASON SPONSORED BY BENTLEY
to be announced on September 27
- STABLE PERSON OF THE YEAR SPONSORED BY RACING POST
to be announced on September 27
- OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION SPONSORED BY DODSON & HORRELL
to be announced on September 27
If you need any information about racing at Cheltenham, please contact Sophia Dale, Communications Manager - Jockey Club Racecourses South West 01242 537 683 sophia.dale@thejockeyclub.co.uk.
