Basto bl c 1703 (Byerley Turk - Bay Peg, by Leedes Arabian). Sire Line Byerley Turk. Family 6.

Also called Black Basto he was bred by Sir William Ramsden of Byram, near Ferrybridge, in Yorkshire, and purchased as a youngster by William Cavendish (1673-1729), 2nd Duke of Devonshire, Chatsworth, Derbyshire. He was assessed as "when in keeping at Newmarket, to be in a very high form for running. He had an appearance of pride and spirit, which added greatly to his figure. He was remarkably strong, and allowed to be the most beautiful horse of his colour that ever appeared in this Kingdom". [Pick 1:2]

The Turf Register states that his 2nd dam, Young Bald Peg, was sired by Spanker, and the General Stud Book notes that "some accounts make Y. Bald Peg as by Spanker" [GSB 1:3] rather than the Leedes Arabian. However, according to an affadavit in the Newcastle Courant his dam was sired by the Leedes Arabian¹.

In 1708 Basto defeated the Lord Treasurer's Squirrel over four miles, and the following month beat the Lord Treasurer's Billy over five miles. In 1709 he beat Lord Raylton's Chance over four miles, and later he defeated Mr Pulleine's Tantivy over five miles. In 1710 he beat the Marquis of Dorchester's Brisk over four miles. Racing only at Newmarket, he is thought to have won several matches there as well.

Said to be a half-brother to the Champion sire Old Fox (b c 1714 Clumsey), Basto was said to have covered few mares besides those of the Dukes of Devonshire and Rutland. Among his daughters was the remarkable broodmare, Sister to Soreheels, the dam of the Champion sires Crab (gr c 1722 Alcock's Arabian) and Devonshire Blacklegs (br c 1728 Childers). She also foaled Bay Basto (b f 1729 Childers), Brown Basto (br f 1738 Childers), Hip (b c 1733 Childers), Puff (b c Childers), Second (br c 1732 Childers) and Snip (br c 1736 Childers). Basto also got the Duke of Rutland's Old Ebony (bl f 1714), a foundation mare in Family 5, and her sister Brown Betty (br f 1713), dam of Cole's Foxhunter (b c 1727 Brisk). Other daughters include the Duke of Devonshire's Old Coquette (br f c1722), and her sister, the latter said to be the dam of the Bolton Sweepstakes (ch c 1722 Bloody Shouldered Arabian), both foundation mares in Family 44. His sons were less effective in the stud although some of them were successful on the turf.

Still the property of the Duke of Devonshire, Basto died at Chatsworth, Derbyshire, in 1723.

¹ "Black Basto, a famous Running-Horse belonging to the Duke of Devonshire. Black Basto was got by the Byerly Turk; his Dam by the Arabian that got Leeds; his Grand-Dam by Old Spanker, and she out of a famous Running Mare belonging to Mr Leeds, call'd Bald Peg... I do Certify the same to be true, and believe him to be as high a bred Horse as any in England. John Crofts." [Newcastle Courant. Saturday, March 20. 1735-6. Numb. 569.]