North Light's sire Danehill is one of the most successful stallions of the last twenty years, producing the winners of more than 1,000 races including 156 at Group One/Grade I level.

North Light began his career in August 2003, in a maiden race at Sandown in which he finished strongly, failing by a short head to catch Post And Rail.

North Light's three-year-old season began with a significant step up in class as he was sent to York for the Group Two Dante Stakes, a recognised trial[6] for the Derby.

[7] North Light was travelling so well that Fallon began to ease the colt down and stopped riding only to start again when he noticed Frankie Dettori closing fast on Rule of Law.

Although he had won an important trial, Stoute was careful not to sound overconfident after the race, describing the performance as "solid" and calling North Light an "each-way" chance for the Derby.

[8] Following the late withdrawal of the Aidan O'Brien-trained Yeats,[9] North Light was made 7/2 joint-favourite for the Derby with the 2000 Guineas runner-up Snow Ridge.

[14] North Light came back from the race with a leg injury which forced him to miss his planned run in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

North Light started quickly and disputed the lead for most of the race with Tap Dance City until the Japanese horse faded in the straight.

[20] North Light did stay in training at four, and was expected to make his debut in the Group One Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh, where he would have been matched against Bago and Grey Swallow.

[26] North Light was retired to stallion duty at Frank Stronach's Adena Springs stud in Paris, Kentucky.

In October 2010, it was announced that North Light would be moved from Kentucky to Adena Springs' Canadian base in Ontario for the 2011 breeding season.