Balding, Trainer of Mill Reef, Dies at Age 87

Racing is in mourning for Ian Balding, who trained the legendary colt Mill Reef, after his death at the age of 87. A Cheltenham Festival-winning rider, Balding was part of a racing dynasty which carries on via his successful trainer-son Andrew. But Mill Reef was the horse who made his name, just six years after he was handed the training license at Kingsclere, near Newbury, in 1964 after the death of Peter Hastings-Bass. Bred in Virginia by Paul Mellon, Mill Reef was a high-class 2-year-old and, although he was beaten in the Two Thousand Guineas at 3, he went on to win the Epsom Derby Derby, Eclipse, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth stakes and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe to help make Balding champion trainer in 1971. A statement posted on Jan. 2 on the Instagram page for Park House Stables read: "We are deeply sorry to share the sad news that Ian Balding has passed away. A wonderful family man, a hugely successful racehorse trainer, and a brilliant sportsman, he will be greatly missed by all at Park House." His daughter Clare, now a highly successful broadcaster, posted on Facebook: "My Dad was one of a kind. Fearless, funny, and charming, he was an all-round sportsman, a great trainer and a beautiful horseman. He loved his dogs, his horses, and his family—probably in that order. He shared with me his passion for sport and taught me to be brave enough to chase a dream, even if it seemed impossible. We'll miss him so much." Mill Reef raced in the colors of Mellon, who also owned the yard's six-time group 1 winner Glint Of Gold and Forest Flower, the champion 2-year-old filly in 1986 who landed the Irish One Thousand Guineas (G1) the following year. Balding also had a good deal of success for Queen Elizabeth II, notably winning the 1974 Musidora Stakes at York with Escorial, while his undoubted star of the 1990s was Jeff Smith's top-class sprinter Lochsong, who was voted Cartier Horse of the Year in 1993. Frankie Dettori won nine races on Lochsong and posted on X: "I woke up this morning to the sad news of the passing of Ian Balding, a man who was a tremendous supporter of mine in my early days. We shared some wonderful moments together, notably with Lochsong and Lochangel, and it was through Ian that I was first given the opportunity to ride for Her Majesty the Queen, something I will always be deeply grateful for. "My heartfelt condolences go out to the Balding family and to everyone associated with Park House at this very difficult time." Balding retired in 2002 and was succeeded by Andrew, who has enjoyed numerous group 1 and grade 1 victories since. Ian Balding 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 Foxhunters' Chase over the Grand National fences at Aintree in 1985 at the age of 46, and was still riding in his 70s. One of the many top jockeys who started out with Balding was Martin Dwyer, who said: "Ian was like a second father to me. I arrived from Liverpool as a snotty-nosed 16-year-old, a bit rough around the edges, and he shaped me into the person I am today. I served my apprenticeship with him and had some really nice winners. "He was a good guy to ride for. He was quite strict with a lot of things, but he could take defeat well and always took the time to talk through things. He taught me so much. It's very sad, but he lived a great life and he loved sport. He started so many traditions at Kingsclere that are still going to this day. As a boss he was great to work for, he was tough but fair, and at that stage of my life he was exactly what I needed." For all his achievements at the highest level on the flat, Balding never forgot his jumping roots and he enjoyed winning the Sun Alliance' Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival with Crystal Spirit in 1991. That was one of seven races Jimmy Frost won on the horse, and he said of the trainer: "It was a privilege to ride for him and I was lucky to be part of it. "Crystal Spirit was an amazing horse, 17 hands as a 4-year-old and the most gorgeous-looking animal. He made you realize what a good horse was like to sit on. We pretty much bounced out and made all in the Sun Alliance, I remember having a chat with Brendan Powell at the top of the hill about how well we were going. I also remember that Ian was really chuffed because his old school principal had had a few quid on!" Frost, who had won the Champion Hurdle on Morley Street for Balding's brother Toby the previous day, added: "Ian was great to ride for. He'd just say, 'the horse is fit, you get out there and do your best.' They didn't always win, but he'd just say, 'we'll go home and think about it and come back fighting'. "It's sad, he and Toby are both gone now. What a pair they were, it was incredible what they did for racing and for me in my life. I was very lucky to be under their umbrella for a while."