Julian Wilson

Julian David Bonhote Wilson (21 June 1940 – 20 April 2014) was an Englishman who was BBC Television's horse racing correspondent from 1966 until his retirement in 1997. He was succeeded by Clare Balding. Between 1969 and 1992, he was one of the commentators for the Grand National and, for a time, had editorial control over the BBC's midweek racing coverage. His father was the Daily Mirror sportswriter Peter Wilson, his grandfather the Times and Mirror sportswriter Frederic Wilson.

Outside his presenting career, Wilson was a racehorse owner and racing manager. His winners as an owner included Tumbledownwind, a two-year-old winner at Goodwood, and Tykeyvor, a winner in the Bessborough Stakes at Royal Ascot in 1996. He was a racehorse manager to Clement Freud and Walter Mariti.

Personal life He was twice married: firstly to Carolyn Michael in 1970, then to Alison Ramsay in 1981. He had one son, Thomas, with his first wife. Wilson died of cancer on 20 April 2014.