*Bask (Witraz x Balalajka) was born February 9, 1956 at Albigowa State Stud in Poland. He arrived in an age when Poland was still rebuilding after the devastating effects of World War II and while Arabian breeding, as a state-funded project was still greatly debated in that country. His sire Witraz, (Ofir x Makata) was a bay stallion born in 1938, a war-baby who managed to survive not only the war, but capture by other nations who were ready to take any horse they could catch back to their borders. His dam, Balalajka (Amurath-Sahib x *Iwonka III) born in 1941, who, along with her daughter Arfa, were the only remaining survivors of the war from the entire Krasnica Stud breeding program. This sweet and silky-coated mare was considered to be most valuable of all the beautiful mares at Albigowa Stud after the war.

 

Bask++ began his race training in Poland at the age of two. He remained in the racing program for a full four years. Out of 40 races, he placed first eight times, second seven times and was third seven times. While not a top racer, his prescence on the tract kept him from being sold to the circus, or from going to a less prestigious stud where he might be used to upgrade the local farm horse stock. It was not until he reached the age of six, that he was sent back to stud to be evaluated. Since the Albigowa State Stud had been disbanded, *Bask++ was sent to Janow instead.

 

That move nearly spelled the end for *Bask++. Janow already had many good sons of Witraz at stud, plus sons of Wielki Szlem, whom the Poles considered to be far better looking than the Witraz offspring. *Bask++ was viewed, by the officials, as having a large, but pretty head, and long legs. There was no doubt he had plenty of animation and spirit, but was it enough to allow him to continue to be used as a stallion.

 

The question, fortunately, never was answered by the Janow officials. Dr. LaCroix and Mr. Howie Kale, with their teenage sons, were the first Americans to visit the Polish studs to take a look at exporting some of the famed Polish stock for their own breeding program back home. Dr. LaCroix and his son, Gene agreed, one look at *Bask++ was all it took. In an effort to his choice, Dr. LaCroix returned to his home in Scottsdale after putting *Bask++ as 18^th on his list of 20 or so horses that he and others from the USA were interested in purchasing. Since the Poles were more than willing to sell, the deal was quickly completed, although it would be some months before the horses would arrive in the United States. 

 

The Transatlantic trip was made by cargo ship, which encountered some of the worst weather imaginable, with 80 foot waves crashing against the ship for days on end. For at least ten days, the horses that made the trip (*Naborr included) were neither fed nor watered. Other than a case of colic, *Bask++ came through it fine, although he had lost about 100 pounds. After his long journey, *Bask++ was finally home in the United States in March of 1963.

 

Within days of his arrival in the United States, he bred mares. The following year the LaCroix’s were ecstatic over the quality of his foals.

 

It was 1964, when *Bask++ began his career as a show horse. His first show was, appropriately, the show in Scottsdale. Without trouble, the Polish-bred stallion won not only Champion Stallion honors, but received the Championship in Park, also. These honors earned *Bask++ his picture in the March 1994 issue of Arabian Horse World. Later that year, he was shown at US Nationals, where he went Top Ten in Park and received the title of National Champion Stallion. It was not until the following year that *Bask++ won his Championship in Park. He was the first horse to win National Championships in both halter and performance. In only four shows, *Bask++ had qualified for his Legion of Merit.

 

Continuing his show career into 1966, *Bask++ again won the championship in Park. And, in 1967, he won Reserve National Champion in both Formal Driving and Formal Combination.

 

With the list of impressive wins behind him, *Bask++ retired from the show ring and was the lead breeding stallion at LaCroix Arabians. *Bask is an integral part of the entire performance Arabian program in the United States. If you look at the pedigrees of your performance champions, most likely, you will find Bask in the pedigree. 

 

*Bask was a strong genetic sire and had the ability to pass on his tremendous athletic ability to his get. Some of his leading get include: Port Bask, Zodiac Matador, Le Bask, Negatraz, Gdansk, Fire Flame, Tornado, Ariston, Hask and Barnaby . . . . . to name a very, very few. 

 

We are proud to have the fine lines of Bask well represented in our Breeding program. We are proud to own a National Champion Port Bask son, Portolas Pride +//. He represents his grandsire well with amazing athletic ability, along with a deep and large heart that drives him with the same zest and ability that his great grandsire *Bask continues his long legacy on.