He went up to Christ's College, Cambridge, in 1959 to read Rural Estate Management, where he played Rugby for the university team, gaining his Blue in 1961 at full back.
He principally trained horses for flat races, but did however bring Crystal Spirit to victory in 1991 at the Sun Alliance Novices' Hurdle.
[1] Ian Balding has had influence on many top class Thoroughbreds and race horses, amongst whom some are Mill Reef, Lochsong, Mrs Penny, Glint of Gold, Diamond Shoal, Gold and Ivory, Selkirk, Forest Flower, Dashing Blade, Robellino, Silver Fling, King of Clubs, Lochangel, Top Cees, Crystal Spirit, and Tagula.
[2] Ian Balding retired in 2002 and gave his Park House stables licence at Kingsclere, Hampshire, to his son Andrew.
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.
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).
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.
Again in 1985 Balding trained Gold and Ivory from Paul Mellon's Thoroughbreds to win in the Grosser Preis von Baden ridden by Cauthen.
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.
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.
Jeff Smith's two-year-old, Dashing Blade received guidance from Ian Balding to come ahead in the 1989 National Stakes.
The trainer was Ian Balding to help achieve this Palace House Stakes purse at Newmarket's Rowley Mile course.
The Prix Eugène Adam at the French Maisons-Laffitte Racecourse was a win for Dashing Blade who was ridden by John Matthias in 1990.
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.
1992 was a busy season for Ian Balding, who was also able to train Poker Chip and achieve victory at the Flying Childers Stakes.
Lochsong, a four-year-old, won the 1992 Ayr Gold Cup under the guidance of Ian Balding and riding skill of Francis Arrowsmith.
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.
Frankie Dettori, an Italian jockey of fame who was a Lester Award winner as well as nominated as a members of the Order of the British Empire.
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.
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.
[6] 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.
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.