Voice of BBC racing retires

BBC radio's voice of racing Peter Bromley has announced he will retire from the commentary box this summer.

BBC radio's voice of racing Peter Bromley has announced he will retire from the commentary box this summer.

His 41 years behind the mike will end with a commentary on the Epsom Derby, which takes place on June 9.

His career in broadcasting began when injury thwarted his aspiration to be an amateur jockey.

He gave his first BBC radio commentary at Newmarket on 13 May 1959. He became BBC racing correspondent later that year, the first sports correspondent ever appointed by the Corporation.

Arguably his most famous words came during Shergar's runaway victory in the 1981 Derby - "You'll need a telescope to see the rest!" - and the emotional victory of Aldaniti and Bob Champion in the same year, which actually reduced Bromley to tears.

Bromley, now 71, revealed: "I was going to retire when I turned 70 but the BBC rather wanted me to go on.

"I lost a couple of Legers - Michael Seth-Smith did one when I was on holiday and I missed another a couple of years ago when my knee blew up. So I was two short of 200 Classics. I will complete the 200 with the 1000 Guineas.

"I thought it would be better to go on and get another couple in the bag in case I got to the pavilion and the scorer had made a mistake!

"The Derby will be my last ever commentary. I've had a great innings so I hope to live until June!"

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