Did the IRA take Shergar?

On the night of February 8, 1983, a foggy evening, intruders broke into the Aga Khan's Ballymany Stud in County Kildare and kidnapped the horse. It is generally accepted the IRA were the culprits, that his abductors were ill-equipped to control a thoroughbred stallion, and that he was killed shortly afterwards.

Did the IRA kidnap Shergar?

In 1983 he was stolen from the stud, and a ransom of £2 million was demanded; it was not paid, and negotiations were soon broken off by the thieves. In 1999 a supergrass, formerly in the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA), stated they stole the horse. The IRA has never admitted any role in the theft.

What happened to Shergar IRA?

Shergar was never seen again and his final resting place remains unknown. In the aftermath of the Troubles, a number of second-hand accounts by former IRA members emerged, which seemed to outline a plot that was ill-conceived from the start.

Was the body of Shergar ever found?

Shergar's remains have never been found and the thieves have never been officially identified. Few gained from the theft of Shergar. The thieves never got any ransom and most insurers never paid out to the syndicate, claiming that the wonder horse could still have been alive after the policy had expired.

When did Shergar get taken?

But in February 1983, armed men forced a groom who cared for Shergar to lead them to the horse's stable in Newbridge, Ireland. They loaded the horse into a trailer they had brought and drove off. Shergar was never seen again. The crime was a shock: Kidnapping a star racehorse was almost unheard-of, before and since.

Shergar: The Mystery Of A £10m Horse - BBC Stories

How old was Desert Orchid when he died?

Desert Orchid, racehorse and equine celebrity, was born on April 11, 1979. He died on November 13, 2006, aged 27.

Did red rum ever fall?

Rum won the 1973, 1974 and 1977 Grand Nationals and was runner-up in 1975 and 1976. He was a very sound jumper, falling just once in over 100 races. His stamina and bravery were perfectly suited to the demanding Grand National fences and his record of three wins and two seconds will surely never be matched.

Where is red rum buried?

After his retirement Red Rum returned to Aintree many times to lead the parade of horses before the race. He died on October 18th 1995 at the age of 30 and is buried at the finishing line with his head facing the winning post.

How much money was Shergar worth?

On February 8th, 1983, the winning stallion of the 1981 Epsom Derby disappears. Known as the fastest thoroughbred horse in the world, he is estimated at a value of 10 million British pounds.

Who's running in the Grand National 2025?

What happened to Phar Lap?

After a sudden and mysterious illness, Phar Lap died in 1932 in Menlo Park, California. At the time, he was the third-highest stakes-winner in the world. His mounted hide is displayed at the Melbourne Museum, his skeleton at the Museum of New Zealand, and his heart at the National Museum of Australia.

Did Shergar ever get beat?

Ridden by teenage jockey Walter Swinburn and trained by Sir Michael Stoute, Shergar was something of a freak. His record Derby win preceded a victory in the Irish version and he then beat his elders in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot. His sole defeat at three came in the St Leger.

Who is the famous racehorse Red Rum?

Red Rum, (foaled 1965), steeplechase horse who won the Grand National at Aintree, England, an unprecedented three times, in 1973, 1974, and 1977. Bought as a crippled seven-year-old, he was reconditioned by his trainer Ginger McCain, who ran him on the sand and in the sea.

Which race horse was stolen and never found?

Shergar theft remembered following Aga Khan's death. The death of the Aga Khan has evoked memories of one of the greatest sporting mysteries of all time - the disappearance of the wonder horse Shergar. The champion racehorse, owned by the Aga Khan, was stolen in Ireland 42 years ago today.

Who owns Ballymany Stud?

After the kidnapping of Shergar, the Aga Khan sold Ballymany Stud to Sheikh Mohammed, the ruler of Dubai. The Aga Khan came into his fortune after his father was disinherited by his grandfather, who named the 20-year-old Prince Karim his successor.

What happened to Ferdinand race horse?

He entered stud in 1989 and was later sold to a breeding farm in Japan in 1994. Much to the outrage of many horse racing enthusiasts, reports indicate that in 2002, Ferdinand was sent to slaughter in Japan with no fanfare or notice to previous owners. He likely became either pet food or steaks for human consumption.

What is the richest horse ever sold?

Fusaichi Pegasus, the legendary Thoroughbred, galloped his way into history with a stellar racing career highlighted by his 2000 Kentucky Derby victory. His record-breaking purchase price of $70 million cemented his status as the most expensive horse ever sold, capturing the world's attention.

Why did the IRA steal Shergar?

However, in 1999, a former IRA member, Sean O'Callaghan, shared details about the theft and stated that it was a botched IRA operation to raise money for arms. A £2 million ransom was demanded, but it was not paid and negotiations were broken off.

Has an Irish horse ever won the Kentucky Derby?

No Irish horse has ever won the Kentucky Derby, but it looked like that was all going to change in 2018. Ireland's most famous stable, Coolmore Stud, spent $3m on Mendelssohn⁴, hoping for a victory in the Run for the Roses.

Can you visit Red Rum's grave?

Aintree Racecourse Tours

We have over 2,000 original artefacts on display as well as superb locations to show you across the racecourse including the legendary Red Rum's grave and life size statue, all steeped in history.

Was Red Rum a girl or boy?

Red Rum (3 May 1965 – 18 October 1995) was an Irish champion Thoroughbred steeplechaser. He achieved an unmatched historic treble when he won the Grand National in 1973, 1974 and 1977, and also came second in the two intervening years, 1975 and 1976.

Was Shergar a gelding?

Once he passed the age of two, he became a colt, unless he was castrated, in which case he would have been a gelding. Shergar's trainer was Sir Michael Stoute, one of the best in the biz, and he recalled that the horse displayed a gentle temperament and he responded well to training.

How much prize money did Red Rum win?

Red Rum's retirement

He never fell in 100 races and after his retirement, he became an icon. He won £146,409 in prize money during his racing career, but was thought to have made more than £1.4 million in official openings and public appearances after his retirement.

Who is the only horse to win the Grand National three times?

It's been over 40 years since Red Rum recorded the first of the three victories in the Grand National that earned him pride of place in the record books, and immortalised him as one of the greatest steeplechasers in the world. He remains the only horse to have won the Grand National three times.