CLARE and Andrew Balding’s dad Ian has won £5,000 on a 100-1 bet he placed 21 YEARS ago.
Former Royal trainer Ian, 83, struck a bet with pal Peter Jones in 2001 that jockey William Buick would one day be champion jockey.
Ian Balding, TV presenter Clare’s dad, has won a £5,000 bet 21 years after placing it
Buick is going to be crowned top jockey at Ascot on Saturday after an amazing year of winners
Buick suffered the heartbreak of seeing Oisin Murphy claim his third straight title at Ascot last year in controversial circumstances.
But the Norwegian is miles ahead of nearest rival Hollie Doyle this time round and will be crowned top dog at Champions Day on Saturday.
Ian had a £50 verbal wager with former Tote chairman Jones after seeing the talent a 14-year-old Buick had riding in the summer holidays.
Even though it was never formally recorded, bookies Tote have honoured the bet and paid out.
A delighted Ian, who will donate the winnings to the Injured Jockeys’ Fund charity, said: “I am absolutely thrilled he has fulfilled the potential I always knew he had – and I have finally had a successful bet!
“My late brother Toby, who won the Grand National as a trainer, would be proud.”
Buick, 34, rated the best jockey in the world, has won just shy of £6million from racing in Britain alone this year.
He has a smashing book of rides for the big season finale this weekend including former Derby hero Adayar.
The Charlie Appleby-trained King George winner will take on world’s best racehorse Baaeed on what will be his final race.
Baaeed is massive 1-4 favourite to win the £740,000 Qipco Champion Stakes prize but 4-1 Adayar has the class to challenge.
With 156 wins from 583 rides at the time of writing – a healthy 27 per cent strike rate – Buick can end the season in style with further top rides in the shape of Creative Force in the Champions Sprint Stakes.
Bet £5 get £20 in free bets with the Tote – CLAIM HERE
He’ll also get the leg up on 5-1 Fillies and Mares Stakes fancy Eternal Pearl.
Buick, who recently became a dad for the second time, is keeping tight-lipped on the celebrations he has planned for his crowning moment.
He said: “I went out last year to be champion jockey so to go down by one or two in the end, you are thinking I don’t want to get into that situation again.
“My agent [Tony Hind] said we are going to have to go hard early – go as hard as we can for as long as we can.
HOW TO GET FREE BETS ON HORSE RACING
“We kept the ball rolling – you can never predict for it to go how it did. We worked towards it and got all the support we needed.
“It’s something that I’ve enjoyed – although it’s hard work, I think I’ve thrived on it.
“It’s something I’ve always wanted to do but I don’t know how I’ll react. How I’ll celebrate? I can’t tell you that!”
Murphy won last year’s title even though he had been riding when he should have been isolating.
The Irishman, since banned for breaking Covid and alcohol rules, rode 11 winners in September 2020 when he should have been in quarantine after lying about being on holiday in Greece.
