Ian de Wesselow, who developed Raceform into a racing publishing powerhouse over 40 years, passed away, reported Racing Post. He was 86. De Wesselow worked at The Times selling advertising after completing National Service and took over the printing and publishing businesses in 1959 after the death of his father. De Wesselow also published The British Racehorse among many others and developed the Raceform and Chaseform titles in association with Weatherbys and the Sporting Chronicle. He sold Raceform to the Trinity Mirror group in 1999. De Wesselow together with Sue Abbott also co-owned several horses trained by John Dunlop and later by Dunlop's son Harry.
De Wesselow's son James told Racing Post, “Although suffering from Parkinson's for several years, he was wonderfully supported by his devoted wife Lene, who encouraged and enabled him to lead a full life right up to the last few days. Indeed, he attended and enjoyed the Henley Literary Festival two days before his death on Friday. He will be dearly missed by his wife, sister Julie, my brothers Mark, Peter and myself, his many stepchildren and grandchildren and other family and friends. He always felt blessed to be able to combine his work with his great passion, horseracing, and he was never happier than on a racecourse with his old binoculars and form book under his arm.”
The funeral service will be private, but there will also be a service of thanksgiving to be held at a yet to be determined date in November.
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