The retired Nicholshayne training great threw out a challenge to the best jumps jockey of all time when he retired in April 2006.
When Pipe handed over the reins to his son David after chalking up an overall total of 4,191 winners, McCoy was some 1,500 down on the 15-times champion jumps trainer.
It would have seemed by many to be a safe bet to bait McCoy by suggesting he would never get to a total that was not even on the horizon.
But Pipe, knowing only too well that breaking records comes as second nature to the never-say-die Ulsterman, had a feeling his former stable jockey would be hooked into aiming at a target that would have looked out of reach to everyone else.
"Years ago when I retired I said he wouldn't beat me, which I hope spurred him on. I'm sure it did," he told Press Association Sport.
"We've had some great banter about it. He kept on texting me all the time and saying he was getting closer. It was marvellous this season that he had his fastest-ever 50.
"He had a bad tumble at Worcester just recently yet came back in the next race and rode a winner despite being in all that pain. Then he was back at Market Rasen a few days later and had a winner.
"He's an inspiration to all the jockeys and to everyone in racing. He's marvellous for our sport and it's just great we've got someone like him.
"All of us in racing are so proud of him for doing it."
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