Tony McCoy admitted it had been "one of the hardest days my life" as he returned to the unsaddling enclosure for the final time at Sandown yesterday.
The 20-times champion jockey did not enjoy the fairytale finish so many would have wished for as he rode the final two mounts of his illustrious career, with Mr Mole claiming third in the bet365 AP McCoy Celebration Chase and Box Office finishing in the same place in the bet365 Handicap Hurdle.
The crowds cheered McCoy from the moment he entered the paddock to mount the 5-2 favourite, applauding him past the stands on the way to the start of the two-and-a-half-mile heat.
Another shout of approval heralded the start, with McCoy settling Box Office towards the rear in the early stages before he started to manoeuvre across the track as the race began in earnest.
However, despite travelling well three flights from home, the Jonjo O'Neill-trained runner found little under pressure and had to settle for a place behind Brother Tedd (9-1).
McCoy said: "There were tears on the way back from riding Box Office, I was trying to keep them in.
"This has been one of the hardest days of my life, but I needed it to be difficult, otherwise it would have meant I was not as good as I was.
"The day has been very good and very enjoyable. I had a few moments when I walked in front of the stands on Box Office.
"I am just so proud. The people have been amazing and I have just felt very touched by it all.
"I keep saying, as I have all day, that I have had a very privileged way of life and I am going to miss what I do.
"Still, to this day, breaking Sir Gordon Richards' record will be the greatest achievement I ever make, purely in terms of numbers as his record was there for 55 years."
"I always hoped that if I could retire on this day I would, as it is the last day of the season.
"I always hoped that I could be champion jockey, and thanks to the BHA (British Horseracing Authority) as they've let me keep the trophy.
"It has been in my house and I quite like looking at it. It sits there and it is something that has been my goal every day of my life.
"That was always my dream to walk away at the top. I wanted to get out while I was riding well and as champion jockey. If I could manage that I would feel a lot of achievement.
"I've seen the very toughest parts with colleagues being fatally injured and severely injured as well. I feel very lucky that I have ended my career in one piece.
"The lads we have lost along the way, I will never forget."
"That was down to Jonjo, as was Synchronised and Mountain Tunes. Those were good days and obviously with JP we have a good team.
"I went to Ireland numerous times not knowing what horses I was going to ride and (McManus' racing manager) Frank Berry, in fairness, never put me wrong.
"Riding the horses for JP was the greatest privilege I have ever had.
"I felt very privileged to riding my 4,000th winner wearing the green and gold colours - I had to finish my career riding for him.
"I've been so lucky with the horses I have ridden, they have been my first love."
The 40-year-old's departure marks the end of his long domination of the National Hunt sphere, which yielded 31 Cheltenham Festival winners as well as two Gold Cups and one famous Grand National success.
McCoy bows out having dominated the jockeys' title for two decades, with the now-decommissioned trophy awarded for one final time before his ride in the bet365 AP McCoy Celebration Chase, in which he finished third aboard Mr Mole.
A total of 4,357 career winners have been banked since he first struck gold with Legal Steps at Thurles in March 1992, with Capard King giving him a final triumph at Ayr on April 17.
He has set reams of records during that time, most notably posting an incredible 289 winners in the 2001-2 season, surpassing Sir Gordon Richards' long-standing record of 269 victories in the process - a feat McCoy rates as his best.
He said: "I have been very lucky throughout my career - I've had so many highs.
"When I came to England, first I was lucky enough to be champion conditional and then lucky enough to be champion jockey ever since. As I said, the people that I worked for helped me achieve that.
"The late Billy Rock had me convinced from 12 years of age that I could make it as a jockey.
"I went to Jim Bolger's for four and a half years and that was great education and it was the making of me. There were times when I thought if I could ride or not.
"I went to Martin Pipe and he helped me achieve the numbers and getting me on that treadmill to want to better myself all the time.
"I broke Peter Scudamore's record for number of winners from a jump jockey. I then wanted to break Sir Gordon Richards' record and without Martin Pipe, I wouldn't have done that.
"He helped me keep improving and we had a lot of good days together with the likes of Cyfor Malta and Make A Stand.
"Since 2004 I have been lucky to ride for Jonjo O'Neill and JP McManus.
"Still, to this day, breaking Sir Gordon Richards' record will be the greatest achievement I ever make, purely in terms of numbers as his record was there for 55 years."
McCoy announced his decision to retire in February but admitted it had been only recently that his decision really began to sink in.
He said: "There were days I thought I was retiring and days I didn't.
"Probably the three best days in racing I had were on horses trained by Jonjo."
"It was after Aintree that it was the first time that it really dawned on me that I had to accept that I was retiring and I've been trying to prepare myself with not going racing every day.
"I think it was best for me to do it that way, mentally, and I hope it was a good thing for the sport.
"I never thought for one moment that when I was ready to retire, I would walk away and come to Sandown and say that I am finished."
McCoy points to Don't Push It's Grand National victory in 2010 as one of the seminal moments of his career, along with Synchronised's 2012 Cheltenham Gold Cup win and his 4,000th success aboard Mountain Tunes at Towcester in 2013.
"Probably the three best days in racing I had were on horses trained by Jonjo," he said.
"Winning the Grand National on Don't Push It (was one) as winning that meant I was lucky enough to be the BBC Sports Personality of the Year.
