1970s 1971 Balding trained the winning horse, Mill Reef (1968–1986), ridden by
Geoff Lewis, in the 1971 The Derby Stakes or
Epsom Derby. The winning time was recorded at 2:37.14. Balding was again Mill Reef's trainer when the horse won the 1971
Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at
Longchamp Racecourse in Paris, France. Philanthropist
Paul Mellon was Mill Reef's owner and the horse was again ridden by jockey Geoff Lewis. The purse won was €1,600,000. Mill Reef was introduced to racing older horses at
Sandown Park in the
Eclipse Stakes. With the same owner and jockey Mill Reef came in at a time of 2:05.40. 1971 was an excellent year for this three-year-old horse and its team, coming in first at the
King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes with a time of 2:32.56 on the 1 mile 4
furlongs (2,414 m)
Ascot Racecourse. Even though Mill Reef was born and bred at the
Virginia Rokeby Stables he was sent to England to race on
turf courses in Europe and to be trained by Balding. Geoff Lewis rode Mill Reef in all his races, bearing the owner's colours: black with gold cross, stripe on cap.
1980s 1982 Balding and owner, Paul Mellon entered the
Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud twice consecutively. In 1982, four-year-old
Glint of Gold ridden by
Pat Eddery placed first with a time of 2:41.4. Again in 1983, the
Saint-Cloud Racecourse saw a thoroughbred of Paul Mellon's stock,
Diamond Shoal ridden by
Steve Cauthen, win with a time of 2:34.9. Balding has won several purses of €87,000 at the
Grosser Preis von Baden (a German
horse race at
Iffezheim Racecourse in
Baden-Baden of 2400 metres (12 furlongs). Glint of Gold, a four-year-old, performed well in 1982 under jockey Pat Eddery. The time of 2:29.10 by Glint of Gold was shortened to 2:28.00 by
Diamond Shoal another of Paul Mellon's four-year-old thoroughbreds again ridden by Steve Cauthen in 1983.
1985 Again in 1985 Balding trained
Gold and Ivory from Paul Mellon's Thoroughbreds to win in the Grosser Preis von Baden ridden by Cauthen. The winning time was 2:37.80 slower than that set in 1982, and 1983.
1986 In 1986
Forest Flower, a two-year-old
filly owned by Mellon, trained by Balding and ridden by
Tony Ives completed the 6
furlongs (1,207 m)
Cherry Hinton Stakes at the
Newmarket Racecourse in 1:12.38. Forest Flower performed well again in 1987 with the same trainer and jockey, winning the
Irish 1,000 Guineas in the Republic of Ireland. Forest Flower, finished the at the
Curragh Racecourse in 1:43.9. In 1986 Balding trained
Insular, owned by
the Queen Mother, which won the 1986
Imperial Cup at Sandown.
1988 Jockey Pat Eddery rode
Silver Fling at the Goodwood Racecourse in 1988. This three-year-old was trained by Ian Balding to capture the
King George Stakes purse. Silver Fling won the 5 furlongs (1,006 m) in 0:58.50.
1989 The
Dewhurst Stakes is a 7 furlongs (1,408 m) race at Newmarket's Rowley Mile course. Ian Balding trained
Dashing Blade to come in first in 1989 with a time of 1:25.43. Jockey John Matthias and owner Jeff Smith were also part of this team. 1989 again saw a four-year-old, Silver Fling brought to the winner's circle which was trained by Ian Balding.
George W. Strawbridge Jr., the owner, together with jockey John Matthias won the purse by completing the 1,000 metres (approximately 5 furlongs) at
Longchamp Racecourse in 0:59.9. The purse at the French
Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp was a win. Jeff Smith's two-year-old,
Dashing Blade received guidance from Ian Balding to come ahead in the 1989
National Stakes. The 7
furlongs (1,408 m) at the
Curragh was completed in 1:25.2 with jockey John Matthias. A 5 furlongs (1,006 metres)
Group 3 flat race was won by Silver Fling in 1989. Jockey John Matthias rode the horse to victory in a time of 0:58.27. The trainer was Ian Balding to help achieve this
Palace House Stakes purse at Newmarket's Rowley Mile course.
1990s 1990 Paul Mellon entered two-year-old
Heart of Darkness in the 1990
National Stakes. Jockey
Pat Shanahan brought Heart of Darkness to victory in the 7 furlongs (1,408 m) race with a time of 1:23.1. The
Washington Singer Stakes was also a win for Heart of Darkness in 1990. Steve Cauthen, jockey, and Ian Balding entered the
Listed race which is 7
furlongs (1,408 m). Heart of Darkness placed first at the
Newbury Racecourse with a time of 1:30.41. The
Prix Eugène Adam at the French
Maisons-Laffitte Racecourse was a win for Dashing Blade who was ridden by John Matthias in 1990. This three-year-old completed the distance of 2,000 metres (approximately 1 mile 2 furlongs) in 2:03.6. Jeff Smith's three-year-old Dashing Blade competed in the 1990
Gran Premio d'Italia. Jockey
Brian Rouse won the race at the
San Siro Racecourse in Milan with a time of 2:29.2.
Song of Sixpence ran the 1 mile 2 furlongs and 7 yards (2,018 metres) in 2:07.40. This six-year-old was ridden by jockey, Steve Cauthen to complete the
Winter Hill Stakes in first place.
1991 In 1991 jockey
Jimmy Frost brought four-year-old
novice racehorse,
Crystal Spirit, to victory in the
Sun Alliance Novices' Hurdle. This Grade 1
National Hunt hurdle race is a length of 2 miles 5 furlongs (4,225 m) at Cheltenham Racecourse. The
Queen Elizabeth II Stakes saw
Selkirk win with a time of 1:44.34 in 1991. In 1992, Ian Balding was the trainer for Selkirk, ridden by now retired jockey
Ray Cochrane.
George W. Strawbridge Jr., the owner saw the horse come in first in a time of 1:36.99. Selkik also won the
Celebration Mile in 1992 with a time of 1:41:72 on the Goodwood Racecourse. Again Ray Cochrane was the jockey. Selkirk received three victories in 1992, achieving success at the
Challenge Stakes. The four-year-old ran the distance of 7 furlongs (1,408 m) in 1:22.27 at Newmarket's Rowley Mile course.
1992 1992 was a busy season for Ian Balding, who was also able to train
Poker Chip and achieve victory at the
Flying Childers Stakes. Working together with jockey
Michael Hills, the 5 furlongs (1,006 m)
Doncaster Racecourse was completed in 1:00.56.
Lochsong, a four-year-old, won the 1992
Ayr Gold Cup under the guidance of Ian Balding and riding skill of
Francis Arrowsmith. This 6 furlongs (1,207 m) race at
Ayr Racecourse saw a finishing time of 1:15.51. Ian Balding showed his skill in continuing training Lochsong, a bay
filly, who was a winner in a
flat horse race for two-year-old and above thoroughbreds. Lochsong was ridden by jockey,
Frankie Dettori, and the horse owner was Jeff Smith.
Nunthorpe Stakes was won in a time of 0:58.12 in 1993.
Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp was completed by this team, 1,000 metres (approximately 5 furlongs) in 0:59.7 brought in the 1993 purse.
1994 1994 again saw Lochsong, bring in a victory by jockey, Frankie Dettori and trainer, Ian Balding with a time of 1:00.84. This time was over a distance of 5 furlongs and 6 yards (1,011 m) at Sandown Park in the
Temple Stakes. The 1993
Group 3 Sprint Stakes purse was captured again by the team of Lochsong, Frankie Dettori. This 5 furlongs 6 yards (1,011 m) race was made in a net time of 1:00.32. The
Oak Tree Stakes purse was also an easy win in 1993 for this same team. Lochsong ran the 7 furlongs (1,408 m) at Goodwood Racecourse in 1:00.20. Again in 1994, the time of 0:57.36 at Goodwood Racecourse won the
Oak Tree Stakes purse. The
King's Stand Stakes saw victory also in 1994 to this same team for Lochsong who easily completed the 5 furlongs (1,006 m) at
Ascot Racecourse in a time of 1:00.73. 1994 also brought victory again at the
Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp in France bringing in a purse for a run completed in 0:57.2. Lochsong was voted as the 1993 European Horse of the Year. Frankie Dettori, an Italian jockey of fame who was a Lester Award winner as well as nominated as a member of the Order of the British Empire.
1995 Trainer Ian Balding, and jockey
Walter Swinburn combined to help the two-year-old,
Tagula run the distance of 6 furlongs (1,207 m) in 1:11.83. This recorded time at the Newmarket Racecourse was enough to win the purse at the
July Stakes in 1995. Robert and Elizabeth Hitchins had success at the
Prix Morny also with Tagula in 1995. Walter Swinburn and Ian Balding were able to complete the 1,200 metres (approximately 6 furlongs) French
Deauville Racecourse in 1:11.6.
1996 Jockey Pat Eddery rode a four-year-old named
Grey Shot in 1996 at
Goodwood Racecourse. Ian Balding as Grey Shot's trainer achieved a time of 3:25.17 in a 2 miles (3,219 m)
Group 2 flat race, which earned the team the
Goodwood Cup. Ian Balding teamed up with former jockey Pat Eddery who won the
Lester Award for Flat Jockey of the Year. Showing his skill at training Thoroughbreds in a flat race, Ian Balding trained
Jayannpee, a five-year-old, to complete the 6 furlongs 8 yards (1,214 m) race.
Willie Ryan, the jockey, rode Jayannpee to win the
Hackwood Stakes purse in 1996. The 1996
Princess Margaret Stakes purse was achieved by the
filly Seebe who was ridden by
Michael Hills. This 6 furlongs (1,207 m)
Group 3 race was achieved in a time of 1:14.81.
1997 Grey Shot, a five-year-old, ran the a distance of 2 miles (3,219 m) at Newmarket in 1997. The
Jockey Club Cup was the price to the delight of trainer Ian Balding and jockey
Richard Quinn. A 7 furlongs (1,408 metres)
Listed flat race was raced in 1997 by
Hidden Meadow. The
European Free Handicap was completed in 1:25.60 by jockey Frankie Dettori.
1998 1998 saw a win for Ian Balding the trainer of Jeff Smith's
Lochangel in the
Nunthorpe Stakes. This race was completed in 0:56.83 by jockey Frankie Dettori.
1999 Top Cees was entered in the United Kingdom
handicap race at Newmarket Racecourse in 1999. The
Cesarewitch Handicap purse was won with a time of 3:40.30 over 2 miles 1 furlong 65 yards (3,479 m). Again teaming up with jockey
Kieren Fallon was able to bring this nine-year-old, Top Cees to victory.
Grangeville was the 1999 winner at the
Ayr Gold Cup for trainer Ian Balding, and jockey Kieren Fallon. 1:11.16 was the completion time to win this purse. Ian Balding and jockey Kieren Fallon again paired up in 1999 and bring the four-year-old
Trans Island to victory at the
Prix Daniel Wildenstein. 1:44.9 was the time of completion for the distance of 1,600 metres (approximately 1 mile) at the
Group 2 race at Longchamp Racecourse. Continuing their good fortune in 1999 Kieren Fallon rode
Putuna, a four-year-old filly to victory in the
Dahlia Stakes. She covered the 1 mile 1
furlong (1,811 m) at Newmarket in 1:46.10.
Halmahera is a four-year-old which was ridden by jockey
Kevin Darley in the 1999
Chipchase Stakes at
Newcastle Racecourse. A time of 1:11.23 on the 6 furlongs (1,207 m) brought in the purse, for this horse trained by Ian Balding.
2000s 2000 Ian Balding demonstrated his versatility as a trainer by starting the new millennium with Brandon Court's victory over hurdles at the Cheltenham New Year meeting.
2001 Later, in 2001, Ian Balding was able to bring a four-year-old,
Distant Prospect and arrive again at Newmarket. Distant Prospect travelled the length of the
Newmarket Racecourse, 2 miles 2
furlongs (3,621 m) from
Cambridgeshire to place first for the Cesarewitch Handicap purse in
Suffolk with jockey,
Martin Dwyer. The race was completed in a time of 4:00.27. In 2001, Ian Balding brings
Nicobar a four-year-old, to Sandown Park racecourse to win the
Sandown Mile in 1:49.61. Irish born, Kieren Fallon was Nicobar's jockey at this event. Also in 2001 Ian Balding saw
Firebreak ridden by jockey Martin Dwyer come to victory. The two-year-old won the
Mill Reef Stakes in 1:11.79 at the Newbury Racecourse which is 6 furlongs and 8 yards (1,214 m) in distance. The 1 mile 2 furlongs and 7 yards (2,018 m) at Sandown Park was completed in 2:08.69 by
Border Arrow. This six-year-old won the 2001
Brigadier Gerard Stakes under the guidance of Ian Balding and jockey Frankie Dettori.
Trans Island, now a five-year-old won the
Diomed Stakes in 2000. Kieren Fallon, jockey, and trainer, Ian Balding, saw the 1 mile 114 yards (1,714 m) completed in 1:44.15 at the
Epsom Downs Racecourse. ==Personal life and death==