Clare Balding’s dad dies as tributes paid to horse racing and coaching legend
Sport presenter Clare Balding’s father Ian Balding has died aged 87.
BBC Sport and Channel 4 star Clare’s dad Ian was a famous horse trainer and Cheltenham Festival-winning rider. His family was part of an iconic racing dynasty, continued via his son Andrew. Ian was also well-known in the racing world for training the legendary colt Mill Reef.
He retired in 2002 and handed over the reins at Park House Stables at Kingsclere, Hampshire, to Andrew. Racing TV posted on X on Friday, January 2: “We’re very sad to hear that Ian Balding, trainer of Mill Reef, has died at the age of 87. Our thoughts and condolences with the family and all at Park House Stables, Kingsclere.”
(Image: Getty Images)
Ian was the son of the polo player and racehorse trainer Gerald Matthews Balding and the younger brother of trainer Toby Balding. Born in the US, his family moved to the UK after World War One, where he became a Cambridge Rugby Union Blue, having studied rural estate management. Ian started training in 1964 aged 26, with the Queen among his owners.
Kingsclere became his home at the age of 26 and it was there he earned his reputation as an internationally respected trainer. He principally trained horses for flat races, but did bring Crystal Spirit to victory in 1991 at the Sun Alliance Novices’ Hurdle.
Ian had influence on many top class thoroughbreds and race horses, including Mill Reef, Lochsong, Mrs Penny, Glint of Gold, Diamond Shoal, Gold and Ivory, Selkirk, Forest Flower, Dashing Blade, Robellino, Silver Fling, King of Clubs, Lochangel, Top Cees, Crystal Spirit, and Tagula.
(Image: Getty Images)
(Image: Julian Herbert/Allsport)
Mill Reef was the horse who made his name. He was a high-class two-year-old and, although he was beaten in the 2,000 Guineas at three, he went on to win the Derby, Eclipse, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes and Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe to help make Balding champion trainer in 1971.
Mill Reef raced in the colours of Paul Mellon, who also owned the yard’s six-time Group 1 winner Glint Of Gold and Forest Flower, the champion two-year-old filly in 1986 who landed the Irish 1,000 Guineas the following year.
As a rider, Ian claimed the biggest of his 65 winners as an amateur jockey on Time in the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham in 1963. He rode his own horse Ross Poldark in the Foxhunter Chase over the Grand National fences at Aintree in 1985 at the age of 46 and was still riding in his 70s.
Clare made her debut as a presenter in 1995 with Royal Ascot highlights and began presenting live the following year. When Ian retired, Andrew took over his Park House stables licence at Kingsclere.
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