Ian Balding, trainer of the Derby winner Mill Reef, has died at the age of 87. He retired in 2002 handing over the licence to his son Andrew, who is now a multiple Classic-winning trainer himself. A post on Instagram from the yard read: “We are deeply sorry to share the sad news that Ian Balding has passed away. Ian Balding himself tasted glory at the Cheltenham Festival as a trainer, saddling the 1991 SunAlliance Novices’ Hurdle winner Crystal Spirit, who raced in the same Paul Mellon colours sported by Mill Reef. “The Balding family were like a second family.

Source: Irish Examiner January 02, 2026 16:36 UTC