Clare Balding has disclosed the single piece of music she wishes to be played at her funeral, as she reflected on 'galloping off the planet' when her time comes. The Wimbledon presenter made the remarks during a discussion about her relationship with her late father, Ian Balding, a racehorse trainer with a love of cricket, explaining that sport was something they bonded over.
Sport as a Bond with Her Father
Speaking on Radio 4's Inheritance Tracks last year, Balding revealed that her passion for horse racing blossomed once she began competing as a teenager. She said: 'I loved sport from a very early age. And I think I realised it was a way of having a conversation with my father. If the cricket was on, you know, he would be watching all five days of a test match. So I needed to know about cricket. Obviously, I needed to know about horses. I wasn't really into racing, and my dad was a racehorse trainer, but I had no interest in racing until I started riding in races at the age of 16.'
From Reluctance to Riding
Balding, renowned for fronting coverage of prestigious sporting events such as the Grand National and Wimbledon, admitted she 'wasn't really into' horse racing initially. She would, however, go on to establish herself as an amateur flat jockey. She explained that she wanted to ride at the Olympics and felt 'very comfortable' on the back of a horse. It was the 'one thing' she felt she could do, adding that she could 'communicate with animals'.
Funeral Music: 'Black Beauty' Theme
Balding elaborated on her connection with animals, saying: 'And I think I was always humming and singing to them. Whether I knew what tune I was singing is neither here nor there, but the Black Beauty theme music is very strong in my head. And I've always said I want it at my funeral. I can sort of imagine galloping off the planet, off the earth, to that music.'
Black Beauty is an 1877 novel by Anna Sewell chronicling the life of the titular horse. It has been adapted for the screen numerous times throughout the decades, from the 1920s right through to 2020.
Apology for Brother's Injury
In a separate interview, Balding issued an apology as she admitted that she was behind her brother's 'worst injury'. She made the comments as she spoke about the 'life lessons' she has gathered over her 54 years. They ranged from choosing friends carefully to making the 'most of it' and her belief that 'animals are heroes'. Yet one lesson about admitting mistakes prompted Balding to share a story about her brother.
She told Yours magazine: 'I have to confess that I was responsible for my brother's worst injury. We were climbing on bales in the barn, and there was a rope hanging from the roof. I thought it would be fun to pretend to be Tarzan and swing on the rope. I managed it successfully, but Andrew let go of the rope and fell to the ground, breaking his leg. I probably didn't say sorry enough at the time, so I'll say it now.'
