PETER O’SULLEVAN, known to many as the ‘Voice of Racing’, has died at the age of 97.
O’Sullevan was the commentator for the BBC for 50 years, a tenure stretching from 1947 until his retirement in 1997. Known for his sharp mind, even well into his later life, he had a delivery like no other and his description of the 1977 Grand National, which was Red Rum’s famous third success, and Desert Orchid’s popular Cheltenham Gold Cup victory in 1989 will never be forgotten.
His final Grand National commentary was his 50th and, even until very recently, he was still a regular visitor to the Cheltenham Festival.
Nigel Payne, chief executive of the Sir Peter O’Sullevan Charitable Trust, said: “Sir Peter died earlier this afternoon, very peacefully, at home.
“Sir Peter was one of the greatest men I’ve ever known. Only last week, he was talking about what he wanted me to do for the trust in the future. He was still very alert. It’s a sad day.”
O’Sullevan began his career in racing in print journalism, working for the Press Association before joining the Daily Express. Known as one of the shrewdest punters in the game, he was still beating the bookies in his later years.
As well as being famous for his achievements behind the microphone, O’Sullevan was also a successful owner.
Be Friendly won the King’s Stand at Royal Ascot and the Prix de l’Abbaye at Longchamp as well as two Haydock Sprint Cups, and perhaps most famously of all his Attivo won the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham in 1974, a race O’Sullevan later described as the hardest to call in his life.
