In greyhound racing, dogs are lured around the track by a mechanical rabbit, but horse experts say the equine species isn't so easily motivated: "There is no way to teach a horse to chase a carrot, " said trainer Gary Contessa.
Lewis also confirmed that the horse would be buried at Exeter, where he had won his first chase in 2000 and also been victorious on two other occasions.
Going into 2010, McCoy had won every major horse race, including the Cheltenham Gold Cup, Champion Hurdle and Champion Chase, but the world's most famous race - the Grand National - had eluded him.