Broadcaster Clare Balding is a face familiar to millions.

Her friendly, relaxed presenting has brought some of the world’s biggest sporting battles into front rooms all over the country.

She has just launched her latest children’s book, The Racehorse Who Disappeared, which follows hot on the heels of last year’s success; The Racehorse Who Wouldn’t Gallop.

But despite her hectic work schedule, Clare will take time out to visit The Courtyard in Hereford next month for a one-off evening in support of St Michael’s Hospice.

‘I’ll be covering a lot of topics on the night, including the Olympic and Paralympic Games in London in 2012, and Rio last year,’ said Clare.

‘I’ll also talk about The Racehorse Who Disappeared, a children’s book inspired by the kidnap of Shergar many years ago.’

Clare says she enjoyed writing the book and loves visiting schools around the country talking to pupils about her work. And her literary credentials don’t end there.

Clare’s autobiography, My Animals and Other Family, was named Autobiography of the Year at the 2012 Specsavers National Book Awards.

Other subjects at The Courtyard will include her recent appearance on the hit BBC show Who Do You Think You Are, which saw Clare travel to the United States to find out that her 10 times great grandmother was the first European woman to be born in New York.

Closer to home, the broadcaster says she has walked in Herefordshire a lot and is obviously very aware of the county’s strong horse racing heritage borne out of the success of Venetia Williams, Peter Scudamore and Richard Johnson, among others.

The Courtyard evening will be introduced by BBC Radio Five Live’s Horse Racing correspondent Cornelius Lysaght, with fellow broadcaster Eleanor Oldroyd in conversation with Clare.

‘Cornelius is a very good friend who gave me my first job on Five Live,’ said Clare.

‘He really got me started.

‘And Eleanor has been such a huge influence on me. She’s so supportive and a great friend.’

Clare added it means a lot to her to be helping raise funds for St Michael’s.

‘They are dealing with a very difficult time in people’s lives, not just for the person there, but their loved ones, too.

‘I’m thrilled to be helping out.’

During the evening there will be an auction for St Michael’s with a variety of lots on offer.

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