Hastings-Bass was born Peter Hastings in 1920. His father was Aubrey Hastings, who trained three Grand National winners and was based at stables at Wroughton. He served with the Welsh Guards during World World War II and after the war was assistant to his father"s successor at the Wroughton stables, Ivor Anthony, from 1946 to 1952.
Peter Hastings was educated at Oxford University where he represented the university at athletics and rugby union.
He purchased Kingsclere racing stables from Evan Williams and began training himself in 1953, concentrating on Flat racing. Between 1953 and his death in 1964 he trained 340 winners at Kingsclere. Hastings-Bass died at the age of 43 in 1964.
Hastings-Bass married Priscilla Bullock, daughter of Sir Malcolm Bullock in 1947.
After his death, his estate became involved in a lawsuit with the Inland Revenue which gave rise to what is known in English Law as the Hastings-Bass rule which allows parties to declare void decisions which have had results other than those originally intended.
