THE TEAM

The Balding family are the current custodians of the famous Park House training establishment. With over one hundred horses in their care, effective teamwork is essential to the running of the succesful operation. Working closely together, Andrew, Ian and Emma Balding with a team of almost fifty employees, create a formidable force at Kingsclere. A wealth of experience combined with the energy of youth provides a team for all seasons, to ensure that Kingsclere will move with the times; and its future promises to continue the legacy of its glorious past.

Ian Balding took over from Peter Hastings-Bass in 1964 at the age of 26 when his employer died at the early age of 43.He thereby inherited such influential owners as Her Majesty the Queen, Lord Sefton and the American millionaire Paul Mellon. Having inherited a knowledge and love of horses from his father Gerald, himself a Ten Goal polo player and racehorse trainer; Ian had already ridden over seventy winners on the flat and over jumps. He had won a Rugby Blue during his time at Cambridge, and had played for Bath, Newbury and Dorset and Wilts. In taking up the challenge it did not take Ian long to prove himself a shrewd trainer, placing his horses well and taking early advantage of the opportunities offered by campaigning his string in Europe.  The prize money on offer abroad in the late 60s and the 70s was high and the competition sometimes less fierce. His enterprise was rewarded by heading the overseas trainers' table on three separate occasions and Champion Trainer at home in 1971.

Ian trained over 2,000 winners which include victories in 41 Group One races, 33 Group Two races, 49 Group 3 races and a further 60 Listed races. Add to this a tally of major Handicaps and it is easy to see why he was regarded as one of the very best trainers in Europe. Since handing over the licence, Ian has maintained an important influence on the running of the yard and Andrew values his opinion hugely. In 2003 Ian wrote his autobiography, entitled 'Making the Running' Copies can be bought by calling the office on 01635 298 210. In 1969 Ian had married Peter Hastings-Bass's daughter, Emma Balding, and she has run the Stud at Kingsclere for the last eighteen years. From a small nucleus of mares they have produced three individual black type winners and with a young group of mares hope to continue to up-grade the whole breeding operation. Emma Balding also plays an intrical part in the running of the operation and has been responsible for many of the bargain yearling purchases over the last twenty years. Her exceptional eye for young talent has unearthed horses such as Tagula, Halmahera, Border Arrow, Phoenix Reach, Pentecost, Vanderlin, Dubaian Gift, Dubaian Duel and Nicobar; all were bought for under 40,000 guineas.

THE SUPPORT TEAM

Assistant Trainer CHRIS BONNER	Head Lad MICHAEL APPLEBY	Secretary LINDY REES

The running of an operation as large as Kingsclere is extremely labour intensive and with the inclusion of part time staff, there are over fifty people employed at Park House. With the majority of staff directly involved with the riding and general care of the horses in training at Kingsclere, attention to detail is a priority. At present there are 38 full time staff who look after 3 horses each; they work from 6am until 11.30am carrying out stable chores and morning exercise and from 4pm until 6pm when the horses are groomed and some are exercised. Overseeing the day to day running within the yard, is Andrew's assistant, Chris Bonner, who offers a wealth of experience and boasts an enviable record over the Grand National fences as a jockey.

There is a good balance of stable staff at Kingsclere, with many of the more experienced lads having worked and lived at Park House for many years and a talented group of younger riders showing huge promise for the future. They are all well catered for with accommodation and regular meals provided for the single staff, as well as five flats and twenty cottages for the senior staff and married employees. The staff are managed by four senior Head Lads, Michael Appleby, Dylan Holley and Keith Betteridge who are responsible for welfare of horses within their respective yards and for ensuring that there is a high standard of work maintained within the yard. Throughout the year the travelling of horses to and from the races is an important feature of any racing yard and Kingsclere has three horseboxes in operation, which are used exclusively for horses trained at Park House. These vehicles are maintained to meet all welfare requirements to ensure that transportation is safe and comfortable for horses and humans.

As with any training establishment the maintenance of the yard and the gallops is also a priority and there are three full time gallop men employed to ensure that the facilities at Kingsclere are maintained to the highest possible standards. Overseeing entries, declarations, accounts and the payroll are amongst the large number of important duties of a racing office and another key figure essential to the smooth day to day running of operations, is racing secretary Lindy Rees. She is also responsible for ensuring that all horses are legal and have the correct documentation at all times. Another hand in the office is Nathaniel Barnett who helps Andrew with the race programming for all the horses and also is responsible for the video documentation on work mornings as well as looking after the Racing Club.