Peter Bromley Voice of racing on BBC radio for more than 40 years

Bromley who had been a commentator for 50 years, almost all of that time on radio, retired in 2001 after commentating on Galileo's victory in the Vodafone Derby.

He called home the winners of 202 classics and will also be associated by many with Red Rum's three Grand National triumphs in the 1970s.

The son of a dentist, Bromley was born in Cheshire but the family soon moved to Cheltenham, the home of National Hunt racing.

He taught himself to ride on the hills around nearby Winchcombe and his experience on horseback gave him a valuable insight from the commentary box. Posted to Yorkshire during his national service, Bromley excelled as a modern pentathlete.

His broadcasting career began when injury curtailed his ambitions as an amateur jockey. In the early 1950s he was one of the first racecourse commentators and worked as a freelance for both the BBC

and the new independent

companies.

Sir Peter O'Sullevan, long-time commentator on BBC television, was quick to pay tribute to a close friend and colleague whose contribution had benefited both broadcasting and the sport he loved.

''We worked a long time together. In 1958 he was working for a television company and he had an opportunity to go to radio, but Peter Dimmock, who was in charge of outside broadcasts at that time, told him to stay on TV and not to go to radio because Peter O'Sullevan wouldn't go on for ever and he would be next in line,'' he explained.

''We had a running joke for many years after that he would have been the longest serving understudy in broadcasting.''

Bromley gave his first BBC radio commentary at Newmarket on May 13, 1959.

Bromley commentated on his first Derby 42 years ago when 66-1 chance Psidium sprang a surprise.

His career behind the microphone was virtually uninterrupted, calling almost all the classic races between 1961 and 2001. He worked for the Light Programme, Radio 2, and Radio 5 Live when the BBC had a contract with the Racecourse Association to cover all the big races.

As a commentator, Peter Bromley was renowned for

his distinctive voice and the ability to pace a commentary, building to a climax at the

finish of a race.

Peter Salmon, director of BBC Sport, said: ''Peter Bromley set the gold standard for horseracing commentary on British radio. His voice and expertise defined the sport for audiences.

Bromley was famed for his meticulous preparation, producing his own racecard detailing the jockeys' colours and other key details.

Bromley witnessed many memorable triumphs, including Red Rum's third win in the 1977 Grand National and Shergar's runaway Derby victory four years later.

But Shergar's record 10-length win - where Bromley famously boomed: ''You'll need a telescope to see the rest'' - remains a clear memory, for

an unusual reason. As he recalled later: ''I left my race-reading spectacles behind - when I found the case was empty it was like a rug had been pulled away from under my feet.

''I had to do the race with dark glasses, but it turned out to be a pretty easy race in the end because Shergar was so far ahead.''

In 1981 Bromley also commentated on the emotional victory of Aldaniti and Bob Champion, the jockey who

had beaten cancer. It was a triumph which reduced the broadcaster, and many of his listeners, to tears. Another well-remembered line came two years earlier. ''Here comes Troy,'' declared Bromley as Willie Carson brought the horse home with an astonishing late burst of speed.

Carson, himself now a BBC racing pundit, is understood to have kept a tape of the commentary and plays it if he ever needs cheering up.

On his retirement, Bromley was presented with a special trophy at Epsom by Lester Piggott, who had been the subject of so many commentaries.

''I've thoroughly enjoyed thousands of races - but all good things must come to an end,'' he said.

Bromley, a keen shot, retired to Suffolk to continue his hobby training gun dogs

Peter Bromley, racing commentator; born April 30, 1929, died June 3, 2003.