Earth Summit (horse)
Encyclopedia
Earth Summit was foaled in 1988, a son of Celtic Cone who was a winning stayer on the flat and over hurdles. Celtic Cone loved soft ground, as did all of his progeny. Earth Summit was bought by a six-man partnership in 1992 and began his racing career as a four year-old, finishing second in a bumper (a National Hunt flat race) at Cheltenham
.
As the horse developed it became clear that, like his father, he appreciated long distances. He ran with an economy of movement, like a marathon runner, and jumped fences with skill and timing. In a thirty-seven-race career that spanned eight years, Earth Summit fell only once, when in the lead, jumping the second last fence at Cheltenham in 1995.
Twelve months earlier, as a novice, he had won the Scottish National over four miles one furlong at Ayr
. In February 1996, Earth Summit suffered a near fatal injury at Haydock
and it seemed likely he would never race again. Twenty-one months later, the gelding
returned to the track, again at Haydock, and came through unscathed.
On 27 December 1997, barely seven weeks after his comeback race, Earth Summit won the Welsh National
at Chepstow
, returning odds of 25 to 1.
At Aintree
on April 4, 1998, Earth Summit jumped his way into the history books, when, having shared the lead with Suny Bay for the last third of the Martell Grand National
, he pulled clear before the second last, running on to win the biggest horse race in the world by eleven lengths. No horse in history, including Red Rum
, has ever won the Aintree Grand National and the Scottish and Welsh equivalents.
After suffering a minor injury, Earth Summit was retired in 2000 and given to his lass, Marcella Bayliss. He won ten races and £420,000 in prize money.
Cheltenham Racecourse
Cheltenham Racecourse is a racecourse for horse racing events, located at Prestbury Park, in the suburban village of Prestbury on the outskirts of the English town of Cheltenham, Gloucestershire...
.
As the horse developed it became clear that, like his father, he appreciated long distances. He ran with an economy of movement, like a marathon runner, and jumped fences with skill and timing. In a thirty-seven-race career that spanned eight years, Earth Summit fell only once, when in the lead, jumping the second last fence at Cheltenham in 1995.
Twelve months earlier, as a novice, he had won the Scottish National over four miles one furlong at Ayr
Ayr Racecourse
Ayr Racecourse at Whitletts Road, Ayr, Scotland, was opened on 1907. The track is a left-handed, oval track, thirteen furlongs in circumference, with a straight run-in of half a mile. There are courses for flat and for National Hunt racing...
. In February 1996, Earth Summit suffered a near fatal injury at Haydock
Haydock Park Racecourse
Haydock Park Racecourse is a racecourse in Haydock, Merseyside, England. The track is a mostly flat left-handed oval of around 1 mile 5 furlongs with a very slight rise on the run-in. There are courses for flat racing and National Hunt racing...
and it seemed likely he would never race again. Twenty-one months later, the gelding
Gelding
A gelding is a castrated horse or other equine such as a donkey or a mule. Castration, and the elimination of hormonally driven behavior associated with a stallion, allows a male horse to be calmer and better-behaved, making the animal quieter, gentler and potentially more suitable as an everyday...
returned to the track, again at Haydock, and came through unscathed.
On 27 December 1997, barely seven weeks after his comeback race, Earth Summit won the Welsh National
Welsh National
The Welsh National is a Grade 3 National Hunt chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Chepstow, Wales, over a distance of about 3 miles and 5½ furlongs , and during its running there are twenty-two fences to be jumped...
at Chepstow
Chepstow Racecourse
Chepstow Racecourse is a thoroughbred horse racing venue located just outside the town of Chepstow in Monmouthshire, Wales, near the southern end of the Wye Valley which forms the border with England...
, returning odds of 25 to 1.
At Aintree
Aintree Racecourse
Aintree Racecourse is a racecourse in Aintree, Merseyside, England.It was served by Aintree Racecourse railway station until the station closed in the 1960s....
on April 4, 1998, Earth Summit jumped his way into the history books, when, having shared the lead with Suny Bay for the last third of the Martell Grand National
Grand National
The Grand National is a world-famous National Hunt horse race which is held annually at Aintree Racecourse, near Liverpool, England. It is a handicap chase run over a distance of four miles and 856 yards , with horses jumping thirty fences over two circuits of Aintree's National Course...
, he pulled clear before the second last, running on to win the biggest horse race in the world by eleven lengths. No horse in history, including Red Rum
Red Rum
Red Rum was a champion Thoroughbred racehorse who achieved an unmatched historic treble when he won the Grand National in 1973, 1974 and 1977, and also came second in the two intervening years...
, has ever won the Aintree Grand National and the Scottish and Welsh equivalents.
After suffering a minor injury, Earth Summit was retired in 2000 and given to his lass, Marcella Bayliss. He won ten races and £420,000 in prize money.