This is an original 1954 photo of the finish of the Belmont Futurity won by Nashua (in the middle) with Summer Tan (on the outside) who was second and Royal Coinage (on the inside) who finished third.
He was owned and bred by Dorothy Firestone.
Summer Tan was by Heliopolis, the winner of the 1939 Chester Vase, out of Miss Zibby, the winner of the 1945 Seaside Handicap, by Omaha, the 1935 Triple Crown winner.
He was full brother:
to Thoris: the second dam: of Honey Jay, the winner of the 1972 Black Gold Stakes; of Destroyer, the winner of the 1974 Santa Anita Derby; and of Wife’s Objection, the winner of the 1969 King Neptune Handicap 2nd Division;
Summer Tan was a half brother:
to Annaly: the dam of Master Hand, was second in the 1970 Toboggan Handicap; and the second dam of Tiger Castle, the winner of the 1978 City of Baltimore Handicap.
Summer Tan made 28 starts with 11 wins 12 seconds 2 thirds earning: $542,798.
At two in 1954, he won: the Garden State Stakes over Simmy and Flying Fury, the winner of the 1954 Champagne Stakes; the Youthful Stakes over Kope’s Hope and War and Peace; the United States Hotel Stakes over Grandpaw, the winner of the 1956 Inaugural Handicap, and Illusionist, the winner of the 1956 Tropical Handicap; and the Cowdin Stakes over Nashua, the 1955 Horse of the Year
Summer Tan was second: in the Hopeful Stakes to Nashua and ahead of Pyrenees; in the Juvenile Stakes to Nashua and ahead of Laugh, the winner of the 1954 Flash Stakes; in the Belmont Futurity Stakes to Nashua and ahead of Royal Coinage, the winner of the 1954 Sapling Stakes; and in the National Stallion Stakes to Islander and ahead of Hickory Stick, the winner of the El Potrero Handicap.
He finished third in the Saratoga Special Stakes behind Royal Coinage and Pyrenees.
Although Nashua was named the 1954 Champion Two Year Old Colt, Summer Tan was actually weighted higher than Nashua on the Experimental Handicap.
After winning the Garden State Stakes, Summer Tan became seriously ill from an arterial blood clot.
He didn’t return to the races until April 1955 when he won the Springboard Purse by fourteen lengths.
At three in 1955, Summer Tan was second in the Wood Memorial by a neck to Nashua and ahead of Simmy.
He finished third in the Kentucky Derby behind Swaps and Nashua.
Summer Tan did not run in either the Preakness or the Belmont Stakes.
At four in 1956, Summer Tan won: the Pimlico Special over Midafternoon, the winner of the 1956 Metropolitan Handicap, and Find, the winner of the 1953 Ohio Derby; the Vosburgh Handicap over Joe Jones, the winner of the 1955 and the 1956 Bowie Handicap; and the Gallant Fox Handicap setting a new track record over Midafternoon and Dedicate, the 1957 Co-Horse of the Year.
He was second: in the Whitney Stakes to Dedicate and ahead of Paper Tiger, the winner of the 1956 Saratoga Handicap; in the Hawthorne Gold Cup Handicap to Dedicate and ahead of Find; in the Arlington Handicap to Mister Gus and ahead of Sir Tribal, the winner of the 1956 Stars and Stripes Handicap; in the Edgemere Handicap to Artismo and ahead of Midafternoon; in the Trenton Handicap to Bardstown and ahead of Find; and in the Washington Park Handicap to Swaps and ahead of Sea O’ Erin, the winner of the 1954 Fountain of Youth Stakes.
At five in 1957, Summer Tan won the McLennan Handicap over Bardstown, the winner of the 1957 and 1959 Widener Handicap, and Switch On, the winner of the 1956 and 1957 Palm Beach Handicap.
At stud some his best were:
B. Major: the winner of the 1963 Chicagoan Stakes.
Indian Sunlite: the winner of the 1966 New York Handicap.
Jig Dancer: second in the 1970 Pimlico Stakes.
Peace Pipe: second in the 1967 Christmas Handicap.
Perfect Tan: the winner of the 1970 Bold Venture Handicap.
Plucky Lucky: the winner of the 1969 Atlantic City Handicap.
Ran-Tan: the dam of Top Knight, the 1968 Champion Two Year Old Colt.
Sunrise County: the winner of the 1963 Grey Lag Handicap.
Toasted: second in the 1969 Pimlico-Laurel Futurity.
Wake Robin: second in the 1966 Test Stakes. The dam of Proud Truth, the winner of the 1985 BC Classic.
Journalette: the winner of the 1961 Alcibiades Stakes. The dam: of Typecast, the 1972 Champion Handicap Mare; and of Society Column, the winner of the 1971 Chrysanthemum Handicap. This is the family of: Leading Counsel, the winner of the 1985 Irish St. Leger; Present the Colors, the winner of the 1982 Spring Fiesta Cup Handicap; Noisette, the winner of the 2005 Modesty Handicap; Charmer, the winner of the 1990 Geoffrey Freer Handicap; Slyph, the winner of the 1983 Princess Royal Stakes; and many others.
Classic Summer: the dam of What a Summer, the 1977 Champion Sprinter.
Queen’s Paradise: the dam of Tempest Queen, the 1978 Champion Three Year Old Filly.
Cat Hat: unraced. The dam of Silver Series, the winner of the 1978 Widener Handicap.
Summer Scandal: the winner of the 1966 Top Flight Handicap. She produced two foals: Checkered Career: the dam of Esop’s Foibles, the winner of the 1978 Louisiana Derby; and Evasive: unraced.
Evasive was the dam of:
Municipal Bond: produced: Mr. Nickerson, the winner of the 1990 Roseben Handicap; Synastry, finished third in the 1986 Roamer Handicap; and Tax Dodge, the winner of the 1985 Royal Heroine Stakes.
Can’t Be Bothered: produced: Ballindaggin, the winner of the 1987 New York Stallion Stakes.
Slew the Coup: was second in the 1984 Jim Dandy Stakes.
Slewacide: the sire: of Clever Trevor, the winner of the 1989 Remington Park Derby; of Slew of Damascus, the winner of the 1994 Hollywood Gold Cup Handicap; of Abbey’s Missy, the dam of Caleb’s Posse: the winner of the 2011 BC Dirt Mile; and of Belle’s Good Cide: the dam of Funny Cide: the 2003 Champion Three Year Old Colt.
