Toby Balding receives OBE

Toby Balding

The knighthoods for Lester Piggott and Henry Cecil, which would be walkovers left to public demand, remain on the wanted list but there was recognition for another of racing's popular personalities in the New Year Honours list.

Toby Balding, the Grand National-winning trainer, has been awarded an OBE for his services to the sport in which he has spent nearly 50 years as a trainer. Balding, 74, won the National twice with Highland Wedding in 1969 and Little Polveir 20 years later.

He took out his licence in 1957, trained more than 2000 winners under both codes but was always a jumping man at heart with other highlights of his career coming with victories in the Cheltenham Gold Cup with Cool Ground in 1992 and two winners of the Champion Hurdle with Beech Road in 1989 and Morley Street in 1991, who also won the Breeders’ Cup Chase twice.

“It’s absolutely gobsmacking to be quite honest,” Balding said. “And an honour and, as far as I’m concerned, it’s an honour for racing.

“All of us are absolutely berserk about what we do and the consequence of that is that we do everything we can for it. And it’s nice that one of our members has been recognised.”

Balding retired from training in the 2004 Flat season but this award also recognises the years he has devoted to the politics of racing. “I’ve been very involved in the National Hunt version of the National Trainers’ Federation and I was chairman for 40 years or more and that progressed into taking on the chairmanship of the national Hunt version of the TBA. And then, latterly, I’ve been on the British Horseracing Authority.”

One of the hallmarks of Balding is his youthful enthusiasm which still shines through when he considers the future of the sport. “We’ve got a pretty good product and one that we should be extremely proud of,” he said.

The name of Mary Bromiley may not appear in the record books but she has helped many trainers as an equine physiotherapist and has been awarded an MBE while Jim Gale receives an OBE for his services to the racing industry from his time as chief executive of the Northern Racing College.

Paul Wheeler

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