| Owner: Captain Byerley
One of 3 direct line male progenitors (along with the Goldolphin Arabian and the Darley Arabian [DA]) to which all of the world's current thoroughbreds trace in direct male line (although the DA's line has been so overwhelmingly successful in last 100 years that over 95% now trace to him). There is no documentary evidence that the Byerley Turk was imported to England by Colonel Robert Byerley after capturing him at the Battle of Buda (1686), as sometimes stated. However, Byerley does ride the Turk as his charger at the Battle of the Boyne in Ireland on 1 July 1690. Public records show Captain Byerley's charger wins a race, the Silver Bell, in spring 1690 at Down Royal in Northern Ireland.
Byerley Turk went to stud at Midridge Grange, County Durham, then from 1697 at Goldsborough Hall, near Knaresborough, Yorkshire.
Sire of Basto and [Croft's] Partner, 4 times Champion Sire. He also sired a number of significant broodmares. His male line was disseminated by his great great grandson [King] Herod (1758).
Byerley Turk died in 1703.
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