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.

Known for his sharp mind and extensive knowledge of horses, he had an explosive delivery and his description of the 1977 Grand National, which was Red Rum’s famous third success, has gone down in racing history.

O’Sullevan was born on March 3, 1918, in Ireland to an English mother and Irish father but after their divorce lived with his maternal grandparents in Surrey.

The only child of Colonel John Joseph O’Sullevan, resident magistrate of Killarney, O’Sullevan always claimed to have first seen the light of day in Kenmare, Co Kerry, but late in life revealed that he had in fact been born in Newcastle, Co Down.

He was awarded his knighthood before his final Grand National commentary and until very recently was still a regular visitor to the Cheltenham Festival.

O’Sullevan, who combined his commentating duties with writing for the Daily Express, had no children. His wife Pat died in 2010.