text: Peerless champion jockey AP McCoy described the final day of his record-breaking career as ‘the hardest day’ of his life as he left Sandown on Saturday night and headed into retirement. And he also predicted someone will ultimately break his multitude of records. McCoy said: ‘Someone will break my records. All records are broken. I just hope I am dead when they do.’ McCoy, the iron-man of jump racing, shed tears as he paraded in front of the grandstand after finishing third on Box Office in the Bet365 Handicap Hurdle, his last-ever ride. AP McCoy was reduced to tears as he competed as a professional jockey for the last-ever time on Saturday . An emotional McCoy couldn't contain his emotions as he waved to the crowd after his last race . After finishing third on Box Office in last-ever race, McCoy was reduced to tears at Sandown Park . The retiring jocket was overcome with emotion after coming third on Box Office . McCoy had much to celebrate on Saturday despite his third-place finish in the bet365 Handicap Hurdle . Princess Anne, a renown horseman herself, told the Racing Post newspaper: 'I can only add my admiration to the epitome of a professional sportsman. Admiration that is heightened by my own, all too brief, experience of National Hunt Racing. 'To win 20 championships is an exceptional achievement, perhaps unmatched in any other sporting discipline, and he has done it in a tough, exhilarating and often dangerous sport. He has been a credit to horseracing and he goes out still at the top of his profession.' Arsene Wenger, manager of McCoy's beloved Arsenal, told Channel Four's The Morning Line: 'I would like to congratulate you for your outstanding career. It's absolutely exceptional what you have done. At Arsenal, we are inspired by that kind of dedication and quality and consistency you have shown in your career.' Sebastian Coe, double Olympic champion and organiser of the 2012 Olympics, said: 'Great is an overused word in sport - get a couple of England caps and you're suddenly a great player. Genius is probably a word less used but I think A.P McCoy is both. 'The guy is a genius in the saddle. It's just an extraordinary period of time that he has spanned - John Major still had two more years to run as Prime Minister! Put it in that context, you tell me anybody or anything that has maintained that level of market dominance. I think he's unique.' Steve Redgrave, Britain's greatest Olympian, summed it up. 'A.P has touched all our hearts. Truly a great to be remembered.' The race was ironically won by Brother Tedd, ridden by McCoy’s great rival and 15-time runner-up in the jockeys’ championship, Richard Johnson. McCoy had earlier also finished third on Mr Mole in the Celebration Chase named in his honour and won by Irish-trained favourite Special Tiara. The 20-time champion jockey said: ‘When I went back in front of the stands and heard all the people clapping, there was a lot of emotion. I was trying my hardest but there were tears coming back on Box Office. There were nearly tears going out on Box Office. I pulled my goggles down so no one would notice. ‘It was a very emotional day, something I will never forget and never expected. ‘The people have come out and supported me and I feel very honoured and very privileged. ‘In a lot of ways it had to be this way because if it wasn’t difficult it meant I wasn’t as good as I was and wasn’t enjoying my riding as much as I was. There was always a huge fear that I would not get out while I was as good as I was. As a sports person that is a very difficult thing to do before the dip comes.’ A sell-out crowd of 18,300 flocked to see McCoy’s career as a professional jump jockey in Britain end after 21 years. He was presented with his final champion’s trophy by Arsenal legend Ian Wright before riding Mr Mole and McCoy’s weighing room colleagues had formed a guard of honour as he entered the paddock for the presentation. McCoy’s final winner — the 4,348th of his career — will go down as Capard King at Ayr on April 17. Great rival Johnson completed a double by also winning the Oaksey Chase on Menorah. Sandown Park was packed with punters and the media who were eager to give him a memorable send off . McCoy was congratulated by fellow jockeys as he prepared for the in the Handicap Hurdle . Box Office's trainer Jonjo O'Neil poses for a picture with McCoy at Sandown . But McCoy's smiles soon turned into emotion after competing in his final professional race . The racing legend was swamped by photographers and punters following his last professional race . The 40-year-old was hounded by photographers as he walked out for his last-ever race on Saturday . The Irish jockey (left) was unable to leave on a winning note as he raced on the aptly named Box Office . And, as if to emphasise McCoy’s assertion that his records would be beaten, there was also a double for the new star of jump racing, 17-year-old Sean Bowen. The wins enabled the Welsh teenager to become the youngest winner of the conditional jockeys’ title. McCoy, who will attend part of next week’s Punchestown Festival as well as a wedding next weekend, was 19 when he won the same title. Bowen’s success on 14-1 shot Just A Par was the culmination of a fantastic first season which has yielded 49 wins. He has the same agent as McCoy in Dave Roberts, who said: ‘What he is doing is freaky. There is no other word for it. We want to keep his feet on the ground but he has some talent.’ McCoy, 40, who announced his intention to retire in February, had turned down the opportunity to take more rides on his final day as well as not riding the week before. It was his way of easing himself out of the sport he loves. The jockey also received a special award from Sandown presented by former Arsenal and Ireland star Liam Brady, who was McCoy’s childhood hero. ‘Race riding has been an addiction,’ added McCoy. ‘The reason I have not been riding as much was because I wanted to get myself prepared. To wean myself. McCoy was presented the Champion Jockey trophy by Ian Wright - McCoy is an Arsenal fanatic . McCoy lifts the trophy awarded to him permanently before riding his final ever races . Sandown Park was packed with fans eager to watch McCoy in his penultimate race on Saturday . The champion jockey was joined by his wife Channelle, daughter Eve and son Archie on his last day of racing . The 40-year-old received a guard of honour before receiving the Champion Jockey trophy . McCoy parades his 20th Champions Jockey Trophy at Sandown racecourse before racing . The retiring 20-time champion jockey admitted he went into the final two rides of his career with a heavy heart . Retiring jockey McCoy insists he will never return to professional racing after his Sandown farewell . McCoy finished third on Mr Mole in his penultimate race as retirement beckons . Sky Sports presenter Ed Chamberlin (right) joined Wright to present the trophy to McCoy . ‘I thought that was the best way of coping with it. I am well aware the next two days, two weeks, two months, two years are going to be the most difficult.’ What McCoy does next is unclear. He has offers of media work and he is also expected to take some role within the JP McManus empire. ‘We might be able to work out something,’ said McManus. McCoy was joined by punters who were bidding him farewell on Saturday . Tony McCoy signs autographs for punters on his final-ever day as a jockey at Sandown . Legendary 20-time jockey McCoy carries his son Archie, high-fiving JP McManus . McCoy shows off the Sandown racecard for his final bow as a jockey . Two McCoy fans wear masks of the racing legend at Sandown as they bid him farewell . McCoy (second right) has previously said 'shoot me if I ride professionally again' Crowds are packed into Sandown to wish McCoy well for his final two rides .
target: Ian Wright presented Tony McCoy with champion jockey trophy .
  McCoy finished third on Box Office in last-ever race on Saturday .
  The 40-year-old also finished third on Mr Mole in penultimate race .
  McCoy was reduced to tears as he competed professionally for last time .
  Racing legend has been champion jockey 20 times .
  Sandown filled with punters to bid McCoy farewell .