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28 Jan 2025

Earth Summit - The Ultimate Grand National Mudlark

Earth Summit - The Ultimate Grand National Mudlark
Do you remember Earth Summit?  

I doubt I would have thought too much about this thoroughbred horse if it wasn't for writing more articles for my brother's website (www.grandnationalwinners.co.uk). It puts a few quid in my pocket and it gives me a chance to remember a few old warriors. 

Anyone who loves their Grand Nationals, is likely to remember Earth Summit. Trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies in the ownership of The Summit Partnership. This son of Celtic Cone out of the mare Win Hill Green was a mudlark. As they say in horse racing vernacular 'he liked to get his toe in'. To be honest, this bay gelding didn't need Wellington boots. I remember someone saying a horse that goes well on testing ground has hooves the size of dinner plates. I'm not sure if Earth Summit was nicknamed Big Foot but we can all agree he liked to get stuck in. He was a warrior of the turf if not the bog.

When you talk about Grand Nationals it's a challenging race. A true test of stamina. Some horses run down hills fast, some run up them slower but never stop. They finish the race covered in mud. 

That's my definition of a mudlark: A horse that finishes a race looking a slubby mess. Two white eyes, nostrils flared with more steam than the Flying Scotsman. 

The jockey shoveling on the coal. A couple of logs at the ready when they see a giant fence looming large. 

Earth Summit fell once in his career. Some said he did it just to get closer to the mud. 

His splattered silks had little colour left to see. The cheering crowd knew who they were looking at!

There have been many great horses win the Aintree Grand National. The greatest of them all needs little introduction. 

[Red Rum: 19734, 1974 & 1977]

Earth Summit won the Aintree Grand National in 1998. 

It was the cherry on the cake for this ten-year-old. That day, he won at the odds of 7/1. Soft ground must have terrified most of the opposition. Not Earth Summit. This was his day and bar Suny Bay endeavouring to chase him home, the rest of the runners were a distance behind. Only six of the thirty-seven completed the course. If there was a mountain to climb, Earth Summit was the horse holding his hoof up wanting to have first go. 

If he knew the answer to one question it was how to get out of a muddy hole.

The interesting point about Earth Summit is the fact most people don't remember how good he was. And they don't remember his greatest achievements which, in my opinion, makes him the Greatest National horse of them all. 

He did something that even Red Rum couldn't achieve. 

Earth Summit won all three Nationals: English, Scottish, Welsh.  

Just think about that for a moment. No other horse has won 3 Nationals. 

That's why Aintree was the icing on the cake. 

1994 Scottish Grand National - The six-year-old was given a brilliant ride from David Bridgwater. He was virtually forgotten on the day starting at odds of 16/1. He quickened clear to win by 14-lengths. 

1997 Welsh Grand National - The nine-year-old loved the heavy going, ridden by Tom Jenks. The 25/1 winner held the late charge from Dom Samarai by just under 2-lengths. 

Earth Summit was one of the men against the boys, and the boys were tough. He ran in 6 Nationals from 1994 - 1999. In fact, he ran his last race in the Welsh National. 

He was retired in 2000. 

Earth Summit passed away in 2005 at the age of 17.