In just four simple words the world will immediately identify the bearer of this title. Sir Peter O’Sullevan, the Irish-born commentator par excellence, has died, but for many generations of fans his voice will never be forgotten.

Tributes have been pouring in since the news of his death became known on Wednesday afternoon. I spoke with his great friend JP McManus at Galway just after the racegoers had observed a minute’s silence. At the age of 97 Sir Peter had lived a life so full and so complete. Overriding all the achievements, which were many, was the fact that he was the most wonderful man to meet and know.

Unfailingly courteous, he had a manner about him that made him instantly appealing. Just hearing his famous voice at close quarters was enough to cast a spell on me when I first met him, while countless discussions with him over the subsequent years simply cemented our relationship. His razor sharp memory for the slightest detail was astounding.

He came to Ireland many years ago to speak at a breeder’s lunch and I recall that my mother met him there. When I reminded Sir Peter of that visit and brief meeting much later, he was able to recount some details of the chat they had. He did not need recourse to a dictaphone but rather had a human version in his head.

Sir Peter not only spoke immaculately but he wrote in a similar vein. There are many contenders for the greatest book on racing, and one of the favourites is surely Calling The Horses. This remarkable account of a life lived well was first published in 1989, topped the best seller list, was reprinted many times and, thankfully, was updated by the great man last year to bring it right up to date. How lucky are we to have this now? The 500 pages of his autobiography contain so much information and is a treasure trove.

BORN IN IRELAND

Widely believed to have been born in Kenmare, Co Kerry, he actually first saw the light of day in Newcastle, Co Down. Sir Peter was brought up from the age of six in Surrey and, while that upbringing was charmed at one level, it was blighted by asthma and this lifelong condition led to a spell in Switzerland where he became proficient in French. This was to cement a love affair with France and a thorough knowledge of its racing, together with many friendships including with Alec Head and his family.

Until very recently he was a regular visitor, driving himself to the Arc meeting each year. When he missed the race in 2014 it was the first time in seven decades that he had failed to appear. At Longchamp we would enjoy a chat, a bite of food occasionally and he would remind me of his upcoming lunch in London for his charities, at which I was blessed to be his guest for a number of years.

We also soldiered together for many years as members of the Cartier Awards judging panel, entrusted with voting for the Award of Merit winner. Indeed, he himself was the recipient in 1997. As the senior voice on that panel, his nominee was always worth considering, while he was a most compelling advocate for his choice.

The Reading Gazette provided Sir Peter with his first role in journalism and was soon followed by a spell at the Press Association (PA) where he rose to become chief racecourse representative. In tandem with this role he was to experience radio broadcasting, making an immediate impression and leading to some early work on television with the BBC.

In his journalistic career he is forever associated with the Daily Express which he joined in 1950. His impact there was immediate and he had a huge following, both for his racing tips and his weekly column. He broke a number of exclusives and he had the trust of many. A man of great principle, he resigned from the paper for a short time following a disagreement with the editorial team who had made changes to his copy.

The resignation was short lived and following an offer which almost doubled his salary he was cajoled into returning to the Daily Express fold where he remained until he retired 35 years after joining. Later he served as a director of the Racing Post for a decade.

BETTING SUCCESS

His success as a tipster was closely aligned with his own rewarding tilts at the bookmakers. In the days when ante-post betting was at its most popular, he took great delight in getting on early and among his best known advices were tipping Lavandin for the Derby at 50/1 and Camaree for the 1000 Guineas at 20/1.

A professional to his fingertips, Sir Peter displayed this in every aspect of his career. It was nowhere more evident than in his role as BBC commentator and when he had a runner in a race. Listen to a race in which he had a runner, or a winner, and you would never be able to identify the horse that carried his colours. He covered 50 Grand Nationals for the BBC, the last being the infamous 1997 edition when a bomb hoax delayed its staging. It is estimated that he provided commentary on more than 14,000 races.

He did enjoy some great days as an owner, most famously with Be Friendly (who stood for a time at Frank Hillman’s Old Fairyhouse Stud – now home to Tattersalls Ireland) and Attivo. Be Friendly was a top-class sprinter and, as a two-year-old, won the Vernon’s Sprint Cup in 1966. He repeated the feat 12 months later. He also enjoyed Royal Ascot success in the King’s Stand Stakes and captured the Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp. He was syndicated for stallion duties for £120,000.

It was appropriate that Attivo should win the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham which was sponsored by the Daily Express. Win it he did, by a staggering 20 lengths from Supreme Halo. This grand dual-purpose runner also landed both the Chester Cup and the Northumberland Plate. Both Attivo and Be Friendly were trained at Epsom by Cyril Mitchell. Attivo’s achievements meant that Sir Peter was Racehorse Owner of the Year in 1974.

Having started his career in racehorse ownership with many barren years, it was fitting that he went on to enjoy many successes and at the highest level. One very sweet victory was that of a horse called Sounds Fyne, trained by Jimmy Fitzgerald, who won the Fulke Walwyn Chase at Newbury on Hennessy Gold Cup day in 1997. The horse hadn’t run for two years and Sir Peter watched the race while having afternoon tea with the Queen Mother. Just months before his 80th birthday, it was also the day he made his final BBC broadcast. Impeccable timing.

FAMOUS COMMENTARIES

His voice will forever be associated with some of the most famous horse races of all time. For me I would single out three in particular to remember. The sound of his voice proclaiming “this is the champion” as Arkle defeated Mill House to claim his first Gold Cup still raises the hairs on the back of my neck. That was in 1964 and 11 years later who will forget the titanic struggle between Grundy and Bustino on the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot?

Finally, it is the echo of “you’ve never heard the likes at Liverpool” that rebounds in my head as Sir Peter called Red Rum home to his historic third Aintree Grand National victory. Like any favourite piece of music, I could listen to these commentaries day after day.

At the age of 80 years Sir Peter then turned his attention to raising money for charities and he has been responsible for the distribution of some £4 million to date. His six chosen charities are the Blue Cross, The Brooke animal welfare organisation, Compassion In World Farming, World Horse Welfare, Racing Welfare and the Thoroughbred Rehabilitation Centre.

Campaigning for these charities was something Sir Peter was intensely proud of, and campaigning was in his nature. He had done so as a journalist too, calling for a number of innovations such as sponsored races, prizes for stable lads and the introduction of starting stalls.

A feature of Sir Peter was his loyalty to friends and many of these friendships have endured for well over half a century. Thankfully longevity was also a hallmark of his marriage to his beloved Pat who died on New Year’s Eve in 2009. Canadian by birth, she and Sir Peter were wed in 1951.

Twice voted Racing Journalist of the Year and also the recipient of a television award, Sir Peter was knighted in 1997. This followed the awarding of both an OBE and a CBE. In between the latter two honours he was elected a member of the Jockey Club. The Racing Club of Ireland honoured him in 1993.

Though he probably didn’t like the odds being offered about his chances of reaching the milestone of 100 years, Sir Peter was never a man to give up or give in. When I received a telephone call from him earlier this year I was not surprised to learn that he was still working away. Despite being confined to his bed in a London hospital, he was annoyed with his publishers who he felt were not affording his book its due attention. Consequently he was on a one-man promotional crusade.

As it happened, it was the week of the ITBA national awards and I was able to put out a plea to the 400 guests present to make sure they bought the book. As the legend now passes to his eternal rest, it is time to dust down your old copy of Calling The Horses, or better still to acquire the updated version.