Goodwood race to be named after Peter O' Sullevan

This will be a summer celebration of his birthday on March 3.

Goodwood Racecourse's Managing Director Rod Fabricius explained: "For many years, the things that best summed up Glorious Goodwood were the stunning setting, the competitive racing and the commentaries of Peter O'Sullevan.

"We are therefore thrilled that Sir Peter will have a race named in his honour at that meeting in 2008.

"Peter has a special place in the hearts of everyone here at Goodwood and we are looking forward to welcoming him back as a very special guest this summer."

Sir Peter, who called his first race for the BBC in 1947, has a long association with Goodwood.

He went racing there as a child and provided inimitable race commentaries to a host of golden moments over a 50-year period.

Sir Peter commented: "I'm delighted to receive this honour at Goodwood.

"For eight decades, no less, my annual return to the most scenic racecourse in the world has been a personal highlight.

"Goodwood's charming gesture will make 2008 especially memorable for me."

Born on March 3, 1918, Sir Peter developed a boyhood passion for horseracing and his Goodwood experience stretches back to his youth, watching the action amid the throng on Trundle Hill

It was from that vantage point that he witnessed the great stayer Brown Jack win the 1930 Goodwood Cup.

He joined the Press Association as a racing correspondent in 1944 and began his broadcasting career in 1946. Sir Peter first worked at Goodwood as a race reader in 1951 and the following year he became the first BBC commentator to operate without a race reader as he went solo for the 1952 Stewards' Cup.

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.

His enduring appeal and the affection in which he is held by racing professionals, as well as fans from Her Majesty, the Queen to racegoers, is confirmed by his appearance at number 16 in the Racing Post's 100 all-time racing greats, sandwiched between no less a pair of racing training legends than Sir Noel Murless and Michael Dickinson.

The Sir Peter O'Sullevan Charitable Trust, established upon his retirement in 1997, has distributed more than 1.5 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 hurdler Attivo before reaching a landmark 50th winner in December, 2001, when Never scored over hurdles at Ascot.

Sir Peter's voice is inextricably tied to a host of the most memorable contests ever staged at Goodwood, such as the scintillating finish to the 1992 Sussex Stakes.

The contest between the previous year's Sussex Stakes winner and champion miler Selkirk and the exceptional filly Marling is one of the most thrilling races ever witnessed at Glorious Goodwood and it was Sir Peter who enhanced the excitement.

As the ultimately victorious Marling challenged the imposing Selkirk down the far rail, he relayed: "It's Selkirk the leader as they race into the closing stages. It's Selkirk with Marling fighting back.

Marling is fighting back - is going to win it. Marling is going to win it at the line. Marling and Selkirk in a photo!"

Sir Peter opened the Goodwood's Sussex Grandstand in 1990.

Goodwood, set high on the Sussex Downs, hosts 22 days of Flat racing from May to October, attracting the very best from the world of horseracing.

For racing and general equestrian coverage see Sussex Horse World, in the West Sussex Gazette every week.