Racing united to pay tribute to Sir Peter O’Sullevan on Wednesday afternoon after the announcement that the commentator and journalist who was known simply as “The Voice” throughout five decades at the microphone for the BBC has died at the age of 97.
O’Sullevan’s commentaries on many of the most famous moments in racing, including Red Rum’s third Grand National success in 1977, Dawn Run’s Cheltenham Gold Cup in 1986 and Desert Orchid’s win in the same race in 1989, are part of the sport’s collective memory, familiar even to fans who were not born when the races were run.
O’Sullevan was also an award-winning journalist for the Daily Express, where he worked for many years, and a winning owner in major races on the Flat and over jumps. He also founded a charitable foundation which raised millions for racing and animal charities. “It’s a very sad day in racing,” said Jim McGrath, who took over as the BBC’s main racing commentator following O’Sullevan’s retirement in 1997.
“He was a great, great man. He had a complete understanding and appreciation of exactly what was happening on the racecourse. He had an appreciation of the racehorse itself and also the jockeys, the participants involved and every layer of preparation that went into getting a horse to the racecourse. He could identify it and appreciate it and I think that came out in his commentaries.
“I think racing has been very lucky to have a man that was so passionate about the sport able to eloquently convey everything that was good about it to the outside world.”
Jimmy Lindley, a leading Flat jockey who later worked with O’Sullevan at the BBC, said “he doesn’t just compare with the great people in racing but in life in general”. Lindley added: “As a commentator, no one else could give you the same feeling watching a race. He made it feel as if you were riding in it. You felt like you were on the horse yourself.”
Another former jockey and colleague, Willie Carson, added: “I always remember in the days when racing was on the evening news, they’d show the last furlong of the classics. You’d switch the TV on and it would be Peter giving the commentary. You’d be listening to Sir Peter’s dulcet, velvet tones giving the commentary. It was lovely. He was ‘Mr Horseracing’.”
Tony McCoy, who recently retired after 20 seasons as National Hunt’s champion jockey, was one of many racing personalities to pay tribute on Twitter. “Sir Peter O’Sullevan, the epitome of class,” McCoy said. “The most distinguished and eloquent voice of racing. He was an amazing man. R.I.P.”
Jonjo O’Neill, a former champion jockey over jumps and a Grand National-winning trainer, said: “Very said to hear of the passing of Sir Peter O’Sullevan. He was the true voice of racing and a wonderful gentleman.”
Nick Rust, the chief executive of the British Horseracing Authority, said it was a “sad day for British racing”.
He added: “Many generations of racing fans will trace their love of racing back to Sir Peter’s unmistakable commentaries. He had an innate ability to capture the thrills of our sport, managing as he did to enhance and often define our iconic races. He was also one of the rare characters to have transcended our sport, being held dear as he was by the British public, and also represented the best of us: his charitable endeavours should serve as his finest legacy and a reminder to us all that we should be judged by the manner in which our animals, as well as our people, are looked after.”
