Clare Balding was not named in her famous father Ian’s will after he left behind £6million following his death. Racehorse trainer Ian died at the age of 87 in January 2026, leaving a gross estate of £6,148,984, according to documents obtained by The Sun. After costs, taxes and deductions, this amounted to £5,883,743.
According to The Sun, Clare was not mentioned by name in the will, which was written in 2012. Instead, Ian left £5,000 to charity The Radley Foundation, supporting private school Radley College, and left the rest to his wife Emma. Emma Balding and Patrick Hoare were named as executors. However, Clare would have inherited half of her father’s estate if her mother had died before him.
The Wimbledon presenter led tributes to her beloved dad earlier this year, writing: “My dad was one of a kind. Fearless, funny and charming, he was an all-round sportsman, a great trainer and a beautiful horseman.
“He loved his dogs, his horses and his family – probably in that order. He shared with me his passion for sport and taught me to be brave enough to chase a dream, even if it seemed impossible. We’ll miss him so much.”
Ian trained some of the most famous racehorses in Britain, including Mill Reef. He was crowned British champion trainer in 1971, and ran Park House Stables in Hants until 2002, when he passed the business to his son Andrew.
Clare opened up on wanting to make her father “proud” of her during an appearance on the Paul McKenna podcast, explaining that he doubted she would win an RTS award for sports presenting when she was up against Steve Rider.
She said “My father just went, ‘You’ve got no chance, not against them’. And then I won and you just sort of think, ‘This is quite surprising’, to my father certainly.
“I wanted to be my own person. I was very angry at my parents for their lack of acknowledgements for women's achievements and that made me really determined to do the things that maybe they thought women couldn't do.
“I remember when I first presented Grandstand on the BBC my father being absolutely flabbergasted. He didn't realise that was something any woman could do, let alone me.”
