Kalendar Magazine 2018-19

This September sees the return of The McCoys, the Jockey Club Racecourses’ prestigious awards ceremony celebrating AND THE WINNER IS…

the best of the sport J ockey Club Jump Racecourses introduced even more glamour and excitement to the National Hunt calendar last year with the McCoys Jockey Club Jump Awards, a ceremony marking achievements at the group’s four South West racecourses, and named after legendary 20-time champion jockey Sir AP McCoy. After last year’s evening of laughter, live music and dancing, Alice Fox-Pitt, the event’s co-host, commented: “We should take the opportunity on nights like this to treasure what fun we have, how much we treasure our horses, and how much we enjoy going racing at the wonderful venues we get to go to.”

Sir AP McCoy took to the stage to announce the Judges’ Choice Award, sponsored by WO Lewis Badges, which requires a unanimous panel decision and in 2017 went to the Jessica Harrington-trained chaser Sizing John. “I cannot remember any horse winning the Irish Gold Cup, the Cheltenham Gold Cup and the Punchestown Gold Cup,” McCoy said. “From the perspective of a jockey, a trainer or an owner, Sizing John is a very deserving winner.” Scotland’s Randox Health Grand National winner, One For Arthur, took the Shloer-sponsored Horse of the Season award by virtue of winning Warwick’s Classic Chase ahead of

The black-tie ceremony highlighted feats from all levels of the sport, including horses, stable staff, jockeys, owners and trainers. Some of the categories are points-based and open to a public vote, while others are chosen by an expert panel. The inaugural McCoys, attended by 450 people, was held in The Centaur at Cheltenham Racecourse on September 29 2017, and the show will return there this year on Friday September 28. Performances on all Jockey Club racecourses will now be included for consideration.

20 Kalendar

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