Toby Balding
Gerald Barnard Balding Jr.
Biography
He was born in the
Gerald Barnard Balding, Sr., ran a polo team. The family returned to the UK in 1945 and Toby was educated at Marlborough College. His brother, Ian Balding, also a retired trainer, trained Mill Reef to win the Epsom Derby. TV presenter Clare Balding is his niece and trainer Andrew Balding his nephew.[1]
He achieved success with both
jumps.[1] In 1969, Balding won his first Grand National with Highland Wedding, following up twenty years later with the gelding Little Polveir. That same year he had won the Champion Hurdle with Beech Road, a race he also went on to win in 1991 with Morley Street regarded as the best horse he trained.[1] Cool Ground gave him a Cheltenham Gold Cup victory.[2]
Balding was instrumental in the careers of jockeys Adrian Maguire and Tony McCoy, providing them both with their first jobs in England.[1] He was based at Fyfield near Andover, Hampshire and finally retired on the final day of the 2004 flat season, having trained over 2,000 winners.
On 12 December 2006 he was elected an Honorary Member of the
Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2011 New Year Honours for services to horse racing.[4]
Toby Balding died on 25 September 2014, two days after his 78th birthday.[1]
Significant wins
Grand National
- Highland Wedding (1969)
- Little Polveir (1989)
Cheltenham Gold Cup
- Cool Ground (1992)
Champion Hurdle
- Beech Road (1989)
- Morley Street (1991)
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e f
Armytage, Marcus (25 September 2014). "Balding, Grand National and Gold Cup winning trainer, dies aged 78". Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 25 September 2014.
- ^ Cobb, John (25 September 2014). "Legendary trainer Toby Balding dies aged 78". Racing Post. London. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 25 September 2014.
- ^ British Horseracing Authority Board & Executives Archived 2008-05-14 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "No. 59647". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 December 2010. p. 9.