Sir Peter O'Sullevan, the world-famous former commentator died peacefully at home early on Wednesday afternoon at the age of 97.

Born on March 3, 1918, Sir Peter developed a boyhood passion for horse racing.

He joined the Press Association as a racing correspondent in 1944 and began his broadcasting career in 1946. Sir Peter, racing correspondent at the Daily Express from 1950 until 1986, was awarded the OBE in 1976 for services to racing, elected a member of the Jockey Club in 1982 and received his knighthood in 1997, the year he delivered his final commentary (the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Newbury).

His autobiography Calling the Horses, published in 1989 and updated last year, topped the Sunday Times non-fiction bestseller list, the first time a racing book had scaled such literary heights. In it he recalled his many betting coups and his friendship with Irish trainers Paddy Prendergast and Vincent O'Brien.

The Sir Peter O'Sullevan Charitable Trust, established upon his retirement in 1997, has distributed more than £4 million to six welfare concerns; Blue Cross, Brooke Hospital for Animals, Compassion in World Farming, International League for the Protection of Horses, Racing Welfare and the Thoroughbred Rehabilitation Centre.

As an owner, he enjoyed success with the crack sprinter Be Friendly and reached a landmark 50th winner in December, 2001 when Never scored over hurdles at Ascot.

Sir Peter's biggest jumping success as an owner came at Cheltenham when Attivo carried his colours up the famous hill in the 1974 Triumph Hurdle, a race which he has described as the most difficult he ever called.

With typical professionalism he relayed the information to BBC viewers: "And it's Attivo first, trained by Cyril Mitchell, ridden by Robert Hughes, owned by Peter O'Sullevan."

Sir Peter's voice is tied to a host of the most memorable racing contests ever staged. At Cheltenham, Arkle's head-to-head with Mill House in the 1964 Gold Cup, Dawn Run’s memorable Gold Cup fight back in 1986 and Desert Orchid’s battle through the rain in 1989 were played out to his call on some of National Hunt racing’s greatest races. He called Red Rum’s three Grand National wins, memorably describing the historic final victory in 1977, “It’s hats off and a tremendous reception, you’ve never heard one like it at Liverpool.”

His famous flat commentaries included Grundy V Bustino in the 1974 King George and his Goodwood commentaries included the scintillating finish to the 1992 Sussex Stakes between Marling and Selkirk.