Legendary trainer Toby Balding dies aged 78

TOBY BALDING, the much loved former trainer who won all jumps racing’s biggest prizes and was the man who established the riding talents of Tony McCoy and Adrian Maguire in British racing, died this evening, two days after his 78th birthday.

McCoy tonight described Balding as his ultimate mentor and tweeted “we had great times together. Tonight I cried when I heard the news my old boss and friend had died”.

Balding, the older brother of Classic-winning trainer Ian and uncle to current trainer Andrew and broadcaster Clare, trained two Grand National winners in Highland Wedding and Little Polveir, landed Champion Hurdles with Beech Road and Morley Street and a Cheltenham Gold Cup with Cool Ground.

A founder of the National Trainers Federation and a lifelong worker on behalf of racing, he had continued serving the sport long after his retirement in 2004.

One of the best, beech Road was a brilliant hurdler

RIP

Gee that is sad.
I worked for him in1972 and that's where I met Terry Paine MBE who had a horse called Scaramander. I was his groom. Toby was most famous for winning the Grand National with Highland Wedding. His Brother is Ian whos daughter is Claire.
May he rest in peace and condolences to his family.
James Goodman

One of the great characters of British racing with a phenomenal record.

How's this for a CV: two Grand Nationals, two Champion Hurdles, a Cheltenham Gold Cup and to put the seal on it, two Breeders Cup wins.

RIP