Ian Balding, legendary horse trainer and the father of Clare Balding, has died at the age of 87.
Mr Balding, who was also a Cheltenham Festival-winning rider in his amateur days, sent out many top-class performers from his Kingsclere yard.
The most famous being Mill Reef, one of the greatest racehorses of the past half-century and winner of the 1971 Derby, Eclipse, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
He was also involved with training Glint Of Gold, Selkirk and Lochson.
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He retired in 2002, handing over the licence to his son Andrew, who is now a multiple Classic-winning trainer himself.
Balding’s daughter Clare was also a leading amateur rider before embarking on her hugely successful broadcasting career.
Starting at the BBC in 1994, she is well known for her extensive coverage of major events like the Olympics and Paralympics.
A post on Instagram from the yard confirmed the sad news.
Ian Balding, legendary horse trainer, has died at the age of 87
|PA
It read: "We are deeply sorry to share the sad news that Ian Balding has passed away.
"A wonderful family man, a hugely successful racehorse trainer and a brilliant sportsman.
"He will be greatly missed by all at Park House."
Tributes have poured in for the legendary horse trainer.
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Tributes have poured in for the legendary horse trainer
|PA
Sports presenter Gabby Logan wrote: 'Sending love to you all'.
Irish sports broadcaster Rachel Wyse added: 'RIP Ian'.
Mr Balding was handed his licence at the age of 26.
The Briton trained at the historic Park House Stables in Kingsclere from 1964 until his retirement.
Clare Balding was also a leading amateur rider before embarking on her hugely successful broadcasting career
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He trained horses for Queen Elizabeth II for approximately 35 years and also for the Queen Mother.
Mr Balding was the British flat racing Champion Trainer in 1971 and was named leading international trainer three times.
He was also an amateur jockey on Time in the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham in 1963, winning the race.
The trainer went on to ride his own horse, Ross Poldark, in the Foxhunter Chase over the Grand National fences at Aintree in 1985, aged 46.
Ian Balding trained at the historic Park House Stables in Kingsclere from 1964 until his retirement
|GETTY
Fellow Derby winner Martin Dwyer also paid tribute to "a great man who was loved and respected by many".
He said: "It is very sad, Ian was a great man. He loved sport and he was a great horseman, I owe Ian and his family a debt of gratitude for what they did for me and for many other people, not just jockeys.
"He helped a lot of people along and helped them in their careers, I’m eternally grateful to have been included in that.
"He took me in as a snotty-nosed kid from Liverpool and shaped me into who I am today, I was a bit rough around the edges when I first came but he taught me a lot about riding, about racing and about life in general."
Fellow Derby winner Martin Dwyer also paid tribute
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He added: "I was only 16 when I first went there, he was just a great man who was loved and respected by many.
"I was apprenticed to Ian and had my first winners for him, we had a lot of success and that continued when Andrew took over.
"The Balding family were like a second family. I’m not sure it happens these days as racing has changed and is so fast-paced, but Ian always had so much time for people.
"He had a tremendous amount of success at Kingsclere and then Andrew and his family have taken it on and made it even bigger. He leaves a great legacy."
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