National Hero put down

[WorkingForTheEnemy]

From the Sporting Life:

Former Grand National winner Earth Summit was put down on Wednesday after being diagnosed with cancer. Trained throughout his career by Nigel Twiston-Davies, the gelding - the only horse to have completed the National treble - won the Grand National in 1998 having won the the Scottish and Welsh versions in 1994 and 1997 respectively. A comparatively sprightly 17-year-old, Earth Summit started to lose condition about two weeks ago and following scans, was discovered to have cancer in both his liver and spleen. He was put to sleep to avoid any suffering. Twiston-Davies paid tribute to Earth Summit, saying: "He was the most wonderful horse. "He was second in his first race and then he went on and won three Nationals, the Welsh, Scottish and Grand National and no other horse has done that so he was an exceptional animal. "Of course the Aintree win stands out. He came back from a bad injury and did really well. "He was a very kind, gentle and sweet horse. I had him all his racing career, since he was four, and he will be sadly missed." Nigel Payne on behalf of the Summit Partnership, which owned the gelding, said: "Since his retirement in 2000, Earth Summit has had a wonderful life, being stabled by Marcella Bayliss, who had looked after him since he joined the Nigel Twiston-Davies yard in 1992. "He, and the many that rode him, had some wonderful days hunting and he made many public appearances including the Parade of Champions at Aintree on Grand National day where he had been scheduled to go next month." Payne continued: "On behalf of our partnership I would like to pass on our deepest gratitude to Peter Scudamore, who acquired Earth Summit for us, to Marcella Bayliss for her undying affection and care for him, for our main jockeys, David Bridgwater, Tom Jenks and Carl Llewellyn, and most importantly to Nigel Twiston-Davies, who trained him so brilliantly and caringly and who brought him back from a career-threatening injury at Haydock to win both the Welsh National and Grand National some 16 months after the injury. "As to Earth Summit himself, 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. "Apart from his three Nationals, his other wins, all on Grade One tracks, included a Peter Marsh Chase at Haydock and a Steel Plate And Sections Final at Cheltenham. "We will miss him greatly but have the comfort of knowing that he had a great life doing what he loved." Twiston-Davies paid tribute to Earth Summit, saying: ``He was the most wonderful horse. ``He was second in his first race and then he went on and won three Nationals, the Welsh, Scottish and Grand National and no other horse has done that so he was an exceptional animal. ``Of course the Aintree win stands out. He came back from a bad injury and did really well. ``He was a very kind, gentle and sweet horse. I had him all his racing career, since he was four, and he will be sadly missed.'' Carl Llewellyn, who won four times on Earth Summit including the Grand National, echoed Twiston-Davies' thoughts. He said: "It was a sudden illness and they had to put him down. "It's a big shame because he was a great horse. He won the Scottish National, the Welsh National and the English National which was a great feat. "He was one of the greatest National horses ever. "He won the Scottish National on fast ground and he won the English national on heavy ground. "He was one of the most durable horses ever. "It's very sad because he was enjoying his retirement, it's a shame he couldn't have enjoyed it a bit longer really. "He was a very straightforward horse to ride and very simple. He didn't like being crowded in his races but he was one of the best jumpers I've ever ridden, if not the best. "He was one of the cleverest jumpers of an obstacle and he went round Aintree four times and hardly made a mistake. He was absolutely brilliant." Recalling the 1998 Grand National, Llewellyn said: "It was one of the best feelings and he provided me with one of the best days of my life. "I've got a lot to thank him for." In a six-year career, Earth Summit ran 41 times for 10 wins, seven seconds and a third for £372,566 in prize money.

Very sad but at least it means he wont have suffered in his last days.:sad

[ralphie7]

Re: National Hero put down another sad day for racing my last GSD died of the same thing it is very quick. he had a blood transfusion was ok for 2 days and then became very ill again. awful when they seem so fit to see them go down hill that quick. very sad to lose a friend for all concerned .

[Tulenos]

Re: National Hero put down Very sad news indeed as all similar ones are. good to hear he gets treatment saving him from needless suffering.

[gazzyg]

Re: National Hero put down Gave me one of my most exciting and memorable moments in watching racing storming past a brave Suny Bay at my first ever National '98 with my cash on him....waving the soggy Racing Post wildly in the piddling rain from the concrete hill, screaming him home...happy days..God bless his little cotton socks :cry :clap G'on The Summit.