Clare Balding pays tribute to 'one of a kind' father Ian Balding after death of Mill Reef's trainer aged 87

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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 licence at Kingsclere, near Newbury, in 1964 after the death of Peter Hastings-Bass.

Mill Reef 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.

• Obituary: From Cheltenham Festival-winning rider to trainer to the Queen - the man behind Mill Reef 

A statement posted on Friday 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."

Ian Balding with his daughter, the TV presenter Clare BaldingCredit: Ed Byrne

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.

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 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.

Ian and Andrew Balding at Kingsclere in 2001Credit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

'Like a second father to me'

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.

"He started so many traditions at Kingsclere that are still going to this day"Credit: Evening Standard/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

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 four-year-old and the most gorgeous-looking animal. He made you realise 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."

Ian Balding: the facts and figures

Full name Ian Anthony Balding

Born Long Branch, New Jersey, USA, November 7, 1938

Family Father: Gerald Balding (polo player and racehorse trainer). Brother: Toby Balding (trainer). Wife (married 1969): Emma, daughter of Peter Hastings-Bass.

Children Clare and Andrew Balding

First winner as rider The Quiet Man, Ludlow, April 27, 1955

Biggest winners as rider Time (1963 National Hunt Chase), Caduval (1963 Rhymney Breweries' Chase)

Total wins as amateur rider under rules 65 (61 jumps, 4 Flat)

Assistant to Herbert Blagrave, Toby Balding, Peter Hastings-Bass

Stables Park House, Kingsclere, Hampshire 1964-2002

First winner as trainer Atholl, Sandown, June 12, 1964

First big-race winner as trainer Silly Season (1964 Coventry Stakes)

Overall European champion Mill Reef (joint top-rated in Racehorses of 1971; champion middle-distance horse, joint-champion three-year-old)

Derby winner Mill Reef (1971)

Eclipse Stakes winner Mill Reef (1971)

King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner Mill Reef (1971)

Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Mill Reef (1971)

Coronation Cup winner Mill Reef (1972)

Champion sprinter Lochsong (1993, 1994)

Other Classic winners Mrs Penny (1980 Prix de Diane), Glint Of Gold (1981 Derby Italiano), Drumalis (1983 Premio Parioli), Lucratif (1987 Premio Parioli), Forest Flower (1987 Irish 1,000 Guineas), Parting Moment (1990 St Leger Italiano)

Lockinge Stakes winners Silly Season (1966), Selkirk (1992)

St James's Palace Stakes winner Silly Season (1965)

Champion Stakes winner Silly Season (1965)

Queen Elizabeth II Stakes winner Selkirk (1991)

Grand Prix de Paris winner Glint Of Gold (1981)

Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud winners Glint Of Gold (1982), Diamond Shoal (1983)

Grosser Preis von Baden winners Glint Of Gold (1982), Diamond Shoal (1983), Gold And Ivory (1985)

Preis von Europa winners Glint Of Gold (1981), Gold And Ivory (1984)

Prix Vermeille winner Mrs Penny (1980)

Nunthorpe Stakes winners Lochsong (1993), Lochangel (1998)

Prix de l'Abbaye winners Silver Fling (1989), Lochsong (1993, 1994)

Dewhurst Stakes winners Silly Season (1964), Mill Reef (1970), Dashing Blade (1989)

Champion two-year-old fillies Mrs Penny (1979 Cheveley Park Stakes), Forest Flower (1986 Mill Reef Stakes)

Group winners for Queen Elizabeth II Magna Carta (1970 Doncaster Cup), Example (1971 Park Hill Stakes, Prix de Royallieu, 1972 Prix Jean de Chaudenay), Escorial (1974 Musidora Stakes), Gilding (1976 Ascot 1,000 Guineas Trial), Dukedom (1980 White Rose Stakes)

Cheltenham Festival winner Crystal Spirit (1991 Sun Alliance Novices' Hurdle)

Other big-race wins over jumps Insular (1986 Imperial Cup), Crystal Spirit (1991 Bishops Cleeve Hurdle), Spinning (1993 Swinton Hurdle), Grey Shot (1999 Kingwell Hurdle), Moor Lane (2002 Great Yorkshire Chase)

Other notable horses Morris Dancer, Berkeley Springs, Martinmas, Joking Apart, English Harbour, Leap Lively, Robellino, King Of Clubs, English Spring, Heart Of Darkness, Blue Siren, Tagula, Border Arrow

Most successful apprentices Ernie Johnson, Philip Waldron, John Matthias, Martin Dwyer

Champion trainer 1971

Most wins in a year in Britain 67 in 2002

Total wins in Britain 1,755 (1,632 Flat, 123 jumps)

Compiled by John Randall