A history-making Sikh has paid tribute to Grand National-winning trainer Toby Balding following his death last night, aged 78.

Balding was instrumental in shaping the early years of Tony McCoy in the saddle and trained two winners of the National at Aintree - Highland Wedding in 1969 and Little Polveir in 1989.

He also won the Champion Hurdle with Beech Road in 1989 and Morley Street in 1991, as well as the Gold Cup through the Maguire-ridden Cool Ground in 1992.

Back in the mid 1980s he also gave a chance to Southampton-born Daljeet Kalarai, making him the first Sikh jockey in English racing.

Daljeet, who now lives in Totton, said: “I used to ring Toby up every day for months asking for a job.

“He eventually met me and gave me a week’s trial at his Fyfield yard.

“He never did tell me that I’d actually got the job, but I was there eight years!

“Toby was a great ambassador for horse racing.

“I saw him a few weeks ago and he said he was very proud of me for what I’d achieved.

“He told me it was always hard for him to get me rides, as a lot of people didn’t want an Asian riding their horses.

“Thankfully times have now changed.

“I told Toby I was very proud of him for what he had achieved.”

Brother of Mill Reef's trainer Ian and uncle of current leading trainer Andrew and of television presenter Clare, Toby Balding retired from the training ranks in 2004.

Born in the United States in 1936, he was awarded an OBE by the Queen in 2011 for services to horse racing.