Earth Summit 1988-2005

He was the first horse to win the Grand National treble – the Scottish at Ayr in 1994, the Welsh at Chepstow in 1997 and the English at Aintree in 1998 where he gave a fairytale ride to his six syndicate owners whose unknown bay turned into one of the most celebrated chasers of the ‘90s.

Foaled in 1988, he was the son of Celtic Cone out of Win Green Hill. Known by his stable name of Digger, Earth Summit was bought as a four-year-old at Doncaster Sales, on the recommendation of Peter Scudamore, for 5,800 guineas by the Summit Partnership – an unlikely collection of individuals who included famed footballer Ricky George, Aintree press officer Nigel Payne, Partner in an accountancy firm Peter Earl, retired businessman Gordon Perry, local government officer Mike Perry and media buying agency proprietor Bob Sims.

Trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies’ at his Cotswold yard, Earth Summit’s first success came in 1993 at Chepstow. He won again in November of the same year at Haydock Park and at Chepstow again the following year. In January 1994 he was first in the Steel Plate and Sections Young Chasers Qualifier Novices Chase at Cheltenham beating Lo Stregone. In April he achieved his biggest win to date in the Scottish Grand National at Ayr, defeating Bishops Island to receive the prize and a 16lb increase in handicap!

Between November ‘94 and January ‘95, Earth Summit won at Cheltenham, fell there a month later and took the Peter Marsh Chase at Haydock Park. This was to be his last win for a while and was followed by a rather dismal few months, culminating in a crushing fall the following year at Haydock in the Greenalls Grand National Trial in which he ripped his suspensory ligament. The owners were told that, even if he survived, he would never race again.

Back in the Cotswolds, he spent six months in his box and was slowly nursed back to health by his stable-lass Marcella Bayliss. By December 1997 he was fit enough to race again, coming back in style at Chepstow with regular jockey Tom Jenks to win the Welsh Grand National, beating Dom Samourai by two lengths.

Then in April the following year, on the unusually soft 4.5 mile circuit at Aintree, Earth Summit went out as 7:1 favourite and won the biggest steeple chase in the world – the 1998 Martell Grand National. He was ridden by replacement jockey Carl Llewellyn after Tom Jenks had broken his leg, and won by eleven lengths from Suny Bay. For the six members of the Summit Partnership, his trainer and stable-lass, a dream had come true.

On his return to Aintree six months later, he won the Becher Chase beating Samlee by 16 lengths, but his racing form declined over the next two years. His owners decided to retire him at the end of that season, but just before what was due to be his last race, the Grand National, a small swelling was found on his off-fore which was enough to stop him running. It was decided to retire him there and then and for him to continue to be looked after by Marcella who had done so since he was four and was one of the reasons why he had been such a well-balanced, happy horse.

In March 2005, and happy in his retirement at 17, Earth Summit started to lose condition and was diagnosed as having cancer in both his liver and spleen. He was put down to avoid any suffering and received a colossal farewell fanfare from the racing press under the headline ‘National hero dies’. He had been due to appear in the Parade of Champions at Aintree on Grand National day the next month.

Said Nigel Payne on behalf of the Summit Partnership, “No six individuals could have dreamt of owning such a beautiful, brave animal. His courage was unbelievable and he rewarded us with nine wins and amassed close to £400,000 in prize money. We will miss him greatly but know that he has had a great life doing what he loved.”

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