Ian Balding has passed away

RIP.

Will always be remembered for Mill Reef but there was so much more.

Sad news, great trainer Mill Reef was before my racing time began but Glint of Gold was a real favourite of mine
along with many others - condolences to Andrew, Clare and rest of the family

The (1 min) video of Mill Reef winning the Gimcrack, in a heavy Yorkshire quagmire, against what would be some very decent opposition
is still one of my favourites

https://youtu.be/8yFRqG58BEk?si=r_5LUyEldE6h6CWR 

Poetry in motion may be an overused cliche, but here it is almost true.

'...... this must be a very good colt, indeed......'

RIP to Ian and condolences to his family and friends

Mellon colours,sheepskin nose band,John Matthias…..Respect.

As a trainer, he will always be associated with Mill Reef and the Paul Mellon colours but N-east Correspondent reminds us Balding's two children have also done him proud. Andrew in the family business and Clare approaching national treasure status.

had the pleasure of sitting down with him a few years ago over a glass of wine talking about mill reef . didnt know me from adam and he  was utterly charming . one of the old school best .

RIP Ian Balding. 

Condolences to family, friends & acquaintances.

'Something to Brighten The Morning' Mill Reef Documentary

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDnNonp3KXE

R.I.P

"The Story of Mill Reef - Something To Brighten The Morning" - an amazing watch imo - a minor miracle that Mill Reef survived his injury.

Very sad news. He had been unwell for a while. He was a very good rugby player and then amateur rider before taking up training. I used to go to Salisbury races frequently and always paid attention to their runners. Still do. Ian and Jeff Smith were directors of the course and loved to have winners there. Thoughts with Emma, Andrew and Clare. Mill Reef was one of the first flat horses that took my attention after growing up with ptps and jumping. I was visiting relatives when he won the Arc and managed to persuade them to turn on the TV.

RIP MR Balding!

Spent a morning with him on the Kingsclere gallops many moons ago, he chauffeuring me up to the famous Watership Down gallops in the most beat up Landrover I've ever seen. It was his second golden period with the likes of Glint of Gold, etc in the mid eighties.

He was charm personified, unlike his (often much needed) hectoring of the field as Master of the hunt on a Sunday morning with the Berks and Bucks drag hounds.

Sad news like others on here don’t really remember mill reef but remember the likes of glint of gold and Selkirk.

I remember one xmas morning 50 years ago I had been doing work experience at his stables. I was hitching a lift back to Basingstoke walking through Kingsclere when he stopped in his red BMW asked where I was going then dropped me home not sure where he was headed but saved me a long walk.

One of my all time favourite racing incidents occurred at Salisbury racecourse in the late eighties.

I was on my own by the preparade ring, mid meeting, observing the runners in the next, when Ian Balding appeared a few yards away. After a couple of minutes Willie Hastings-Bass (soon to become Lord Huntingdon) shuffled over and approached Ian with the plea that he was skint and could Ian loan him the price of a cup of tea.

Fully expecting Mr Balding to reach into his pocket for a few coins I was shocked by what followed.

Instead of handing over the money he let rip the following tirade.'For phucks sake Bass, you've always been a blooody scrounger, now buggger off!.

It was only some time later that I discovered that they were brothers in law.

Always have memories of Forest Flower when it comes to Mr Balding.....Always looked youthful...A great innings, so you celebrate the man..

Top class trainer.
RIP.

Rip to Mr Balding, seemed a genuinely decent man and a great trainer of horses, condolences to his family.

Selkirk is another horse that I always associate with Ian Balding. A very good miler and the last stallion son of Sharpen Up. Selkirk won the Lockinge and the QE2 at Group 1 level.

once told me the nickname of a well known tv broadcaster as they approached us in the parade ring, was struggling not to laugh & had to walk away, after that still think of his joke every time they are on tv, nice man with a sharp wit

I backed Forest Flower in Ireland. I think she  won. I think she was owned by Paul Mellon.

Firm but fair. Used to go to Kingsclere in my school holidays (1978-80) at the age of 14/15 and get run away with on old Morris Dancer. Fell off Aldie one day and Mr Balding watched me for 10 minutes trying to jump back on. Eventually I managed it and he said you've learnt a valuable lesson there, don't ride so short!
Great times though, brilliant staff and such horses as Mrs Penny, Centurion winning the Cesarewitch, Fair Season & Be Better 1st/2nd in the Lincoln. Twickenham coming 2nd to Steve Cauthens first British winner, Marquee Universal at a rain soaked Salisbury.

Sageform I always remember Selkirk in deafeat in that marvellous Sussex stakes against marling.

Great filly. Daughter of Marwell who was probably even better but was a sprinter.

My all time favourite sprinter sageform

My good friends Eddie and Barbara(now deceased) were big fans of Ian and his runners, backing them religiously. About 1993 Barbara became unwell for a long period. Another mutual friend wrote a letter To Ian telling him about Barbara's illness and her love of horse racing. Ian wrote her a lovely get well letter and a list of horses to follow for the new season. Nearly every horse on the list won at least once and Eddie and Barbara cheered a few of them home at York. To say Barbara was pleased is an understatement

Lovely post, Crystal.

Always seemed a decent bloke and some nice posts
on here confirm it.

Sad news, but a life well lived.

Met him on a stable tour,all the silks hanging in the office what a site to see

Had time for everyone this was around 2010

RIP

RIP ' Loved his dogs , horses and family  , probably in that order ' ......

first race    Fireside Chat  2/9  Mill Reef 8/1     anyone here on the fav ? 

Yes  I  was

Alec Bird was on

RIP. One of the good guys, genuine and always had time for the racing public

Bird on the fav or mill reef irons ?

Rest well.
87 a good innings.  A fine trainer in his time.

He was on the fav,Howard in a double to mitigate the 6 pence (old money)in the pound tax

Bird loved the short ones

They’re just a lovely family.

ta irons

His auto biography named
Making the Running A Racing Life
Published 2005

Lovely read

Joined: 01 Apr 25 | Topic/replies: 5,478 | Blogger: uptheirons's blog
He was on the fav,Howard in a double to mitigate the 6 pence (old money)in the pound tax
Rate reply:


haha, thats what i did to pay for the tax when i had a 5 grand double on All Haste and Dancing Brave.....Dancing Brave was
to pay the tax.....I took no price on Dancing Brave and it returned "no offers"..

could only happen to me.

Aberdonia that goodwood race was the last time no sp was returned.

Didn’t realise until today Ian balding was born in America

His kids private education paid for by
Paul MELLON

Generous

factice you was there the year after me I remember Morris Dancer trying to take a bite of me while feeding. Aldie a great schoolmaster along with Red Reef.

Joined: 03 Jan 01 | Topic/replies: 17,483 | Blogger: jimnast's blog
Aberdonia that goodwood race was the last time no sp was returned.

Didn’t realise until today Ian balding was born in America


From memory, board price in the morning was 1/12

Same as you re where Ian Balding was born.....google/Al tells you everything....

ImSoLuckyLucky! -- "His kids private education paid for by
Paul MELLON

Generous"

Loose change for Paul Mellon who owned his own bank which contained all the money in the world, or at least enough of it to make him one of the ten richest people in America. Although Generous was Fahd Salman's Derby winner. You are thinking of Mill Reef.

To put in today's money, a billionaire paying £10,000 for a year at Eton or wherever (probably not an all-boys school for Clare, come to think of it) is like a millionaire paying £10 or someone on an average salary paying 25p.

Clare went to the same school as Venetia.

Cheltenham Ladies' College

^
Clare was educated and became head girl at Downe House School.