Tony McCoy handed knighthood as sport is showered with awards in New Year's Honours

The former jump jockey, who brought down the curtain on his glittering career in April after 20 years of near total dominance, dedicated his knighthood to the wider racing community.

The wider sporting community were also celebrating with CBEs for football legends Denis Law and Francis Lee and motorsport's John Surtees, as well as OBEs for Tour de France winner Chris Froome and snooker's Ronnie O'Sullivan.

McCoy's elevation to a knighthood puts him alongside Sir Gordon Richards as one of only two jockeys to receive the highest accolade.

It recognises not only his huge contribution and domination of jump racing - a sport which saw him champion jockey 20 times and ride 4,348 winners - but also his standing out of the saddle.