Trainer Toby Balding Dies

TRAINER TOBY BALDING DIES
Prominent British jumps trainer Toby Balding, brother to trainer Ian Balding and uncle to trainer Andrew Balding and renowned broadcaster Clare Balding, died Thursday at age 78.
Balding had trained the winners of all of Britain’s major jumps prizes before his retirement in 2004, including two Grand Nationals and Champions Hurdles and the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Balding also kickstarted the riding careers of leading riders AP McCoy and Adrian Maguire.
McCoy paid tribute to Balding, stating, “he did everything the right way. He had great patience. First and foremost, he was a great trainer. He was a hugely respected figure in the world of racing. His record as a trainer was second to none. To nurture a young person there was no better man. He was a very fair man and a very enjoyable man to be around. He’d give you great belief and confidence. He’d always be one to talk things through with you and put you right.”
Maguire added, “It’s very sad news and it came as a shock to me. He was a real gentleman and was a father figure to me and my wife, Sabrina, when we first moved to the UK. We remained very close friends. Everyone loved him and people didn’t just want a horse with Toby Balding because he was a great trainer, they wanted a horse with him just to be involved with him.”