The ‘voice of racing’ Peter O’Sullevan dies aged 97

If Peter O’Sullevan hadn’t, as a schoolboy, put his last sixpence on Tipperary Tim, the 100-1 winner of the 1928 Aintree Grand National, he might not have gone on to become one of the most famous figures in British and Irish horse racing.

His winning bet was a sign of things to come as he went on to be one of the greatest sports commentators of all time. Known as the ‘Voice of Racing’, he died yesterday at the age of 97.

O’Sullevan, the BBC’s leading racing commentator for 50 years, provided the soundtrack to many of racing’s greatest moments and received a knighthood in 1997.