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Shergar

Updated: 12/11/2025, 5:50:19 PM Wikipedia source

Shergar (3 March 1978 – c. February 1983) was an Irish-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. After a very successful season in 1981 he was retired to the Ballymany Stud in County Kildare, Ireland. 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. The Aga Khan, Shergar's owner, sent the horse for training in Britain in 1979 and 1980. Shergar began his first season of racing in September 1980 and ran two races that year, where he won one and came second in the other. In 1981 he ran in six races, winning five of them. In June that year he won the 202nd Epsom Derby by ten lengths—the longest winning margin in the race's history. Three weeks later he won the Irish Sweeps Derby by four lengths; a month after that he won the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes by four lengths. In his final race of the year he came in fourth, and the Aga Khan decided to retire him to stud in Ireland. After Shergar's Epsom Derby win, the Aga Khan sold forty shares in the horse, valuing it at £10 million. Retaining six shares, he created an owners' syndicate with the remaining thirty-four members. Shergar was stolen from the Aga Khan's stud farm by an armed gang on 8 February 1983. Negotiations were conducted with the thieves, but the gang broke off all communication after four days when the syndicate did not accept as true the proof provided that the horse was still alive. In 1999 Sean O'Callaghan, a former member of the IRA, published details of the theft and stated that it was an IRA operation to raise money for arms. He said that very soon after the theft, Shergar had panicked and damaged his leg, which led to him being killed by the gang. An investigation by The Sunday Telegraph concluded that the horse was shot four days after the theft. No arrests have ever been made in relation to the theft. Shergar's body has never been recovered or identified; it is likely that the body was buried near Aughnasheelin, near Ballinamore, County Leitrim. In honour of Shergar, the Shergar Cup was inaugurated in 1999. His story has been made into two screen dramatisations, several books and two documentaries.

Infobox

Sire
Great Nephew
Grandsire
Honeyway
Dam
Sharmeen
Damsire
Val de Loir
Sex
Stallion
Foaled
3 March 1978
Died
c. February 1983(1983-02-00) (aged 4)
Country
Ireland
Colour
Bay
Breeder
HH Aga Khan IV
Owner
HH Aga Khan IV
Trainer
Michael Stoute
Record
8: 6–1–0

Tables

Shergar's career statistics[147][148] · Racing statistics
Kris Plate
Kris Plate
Race
Kris Plate
Date
19 September 1980
Age
2
Distance
1 mile
Course
Newbury
Odds
11–8
Time
1:38.71
Field
23
Finish
1
Margin
2+1⁄2 lengths
Jockey
Lester Piggott
William Hill Futurity Stakes
William Hill Futurity Stakes
Race
William Hill Futurity Stakes
Date
25 October 1980
Age
2
Distance
1 mile
Course
Doncaster
Odds
5–2
Time
1:43.53
Field
7
Finish
2
Margin
(2+1⁄2 lengths)
Jockey
Lester Piggott
Guardian Newspaper Classic Trial
Guardian Newspaper Classic Trial
Race
Guardian Newspaper Classic Trial
Date
25 April 1981
Age
3
Distance
1+1⁄4 miles
Course
Sandown
Odds
Evens
Time
2:09.35
Field
9
Finish
1
Margin
10 lengths
Jockey
Walter Swinburn
Chester Vase
Chester Vase
Race
Chester Vase
Date
5 May 1981
Age
3
Distance
1 mile, 4 furlongs, 65 yards
Course
Chester
Odds
4–11
Time
2:40.47
Field
10
Finish
1
Margin
12 lengths
Jockey
Walter Swinburn
Derby Stakes
Derby Stakes
Race
Derby Stakes
Date
3 June 1981
Age
3
Distance
1+1⁄2 miles
Course
Epsom
Odds
10–11
Time
2:44.21
Field
18
Finish
1
Margin
10 lengths
Jockey
Walter Swinburn
Irish Sweeps Derby
Irish Sweeps Derby
Race
Irish Sweeps Derby
Date
27 June 1981
Age
3
Distance
1+1⁄2 miles
Course
The Curragh
Odds
1–3
Time
2:32.7
Field
12
Finish
1
Margin
4 lengths
Jockey
Lester Piggott
King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes
King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes
Race
King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes
Date
25 July 1981
Age
3
Distance
1+1⁄2 miles
Course
Ascot
Odds
2–5
Time
2:35.4
Field
7
Finish
1
Margin
4 lengths
Jockey
Walter Swinburn
St Leger Stakes
St Leger Stakes
Race
St Leger Stakes
Date
12 September 1981
Age
3
Distance
1 mile, 6 furlongs, 127 yards
Course
Doncaster
Odds
4–9
Time
3:11.6
Field
7
Finish
4
Margin
N/A
Jockey
Walter Swinburn
Race
Date
Age
Distance
Course
Odds
Time
Field
Finish
Margin
Jockey
Kris Plate
19 September 1980
2
1 mile
Newbury
11–8
1:38.71
23
1
2+1⁄2 lengths
Lester Piggott
William Hill Futurity Stakes
25 October 1980
2
1 mile
Doncaster
5–2
1:43.53
7
2
(2+1⁄2 lengths)
Lester Piggott
Guardian Newspaper Classic Trial
25 April 1981
3
1+1⁄4 miles
Sandown
Evens
2:09.35
9
1
10 lengths
Walter Swinburn
Chester Vase
5 May 1981
3
1 mile, 4 furlongs, 65 yards
Chester
4–11
2:40.47
10
1
12 lengths
Walter Swinburn
Derby Stakes
3 June 1981
3
1+1⁄2 miles
Epsom
10–11
2:44.21
18
1
10 lengths
Walter Swinburn
Irish Sweeps Derby
27 June 1981
3
1+1⁄2 miles
The Curragh
1–3
2:32.7
12
1
4 lengths
Lester Piggott
King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes
25 July 1981
3
1+1⁄2 miles
Ascot
2–5
2:35.4
7
1
4 lengths
Walter Swinburn
St Leger Stakes
12 September 1981
3
1 mile, 6 furlongs, 127 yards
Doncaster
4–9
3:11.6
7
4
N/A
Walter Swinburn
Earnings from races · Racing statistics
1980
1980
Year
1980
Age
2
Starts
2
Win (1st)
1
Place(2nd)
1
Earnings(£)
68,630
1981
1981
Year
1981
Age
3
Starts
6
Win (1st)
5
Place(2nd)
–
Earnings(£)
371,566
Total
Total
Year
Total
Age
8
Starts
6
Win (1st)
1
Place(2nd)
440,196
Year
Age
Starts
Win (1st)
Place(2nd)
Earnings(£)
1980
2
2
1
1
68,630
1981
3
6
5
–
371,566
Total
8
6
1
440,196
Pedigree of Shergar (GB), bay stallion 1978[148][149] · Pedigree
Scapa Flow
Scapa Flow
SireGreat Nephew
Scapa Flow
Honey Buzzard
Honey Buzzard
SireGreat Nephew
Honey Buzzard
Honeyway
Papyrus
Lady Peregrine
Lady Peregrine
SireGreat Nephew
Lady Peregrine
Sybil's Niece
Sybil's Niece
SireGreat Nephew
Sybil's Niece
Honeyway
Admiral's Walk
Fairway
Hyperion
Tabaris
Tabaris
SireGreat Nephew
Tabaris
Sybil's Sister
Sybil's Sister
SireGreat Nephew
Sybil's Sister
Honeyway
Nearco
Sister Sarah
Sister Sarah
SireGreat Nephew
Sister Sarah
DamSharmeen
DamSharmeen
SireGreat Nephew
DamSharmeen
Honeyway
Val de Loir
Fairway
Vieux Manoir
Phalaris
Brantôme
Vielle Maison
Vielle Maison
SireGreat Nephew
Vielle Maison
Vali
Vali
SireGreat Nephew
Vali
Honeyway
Sunny Boy
Her Slipper
Her Slipper
SireGreat Nephew
Her Slipper
Nasreen
Nasreen
SireGreat Nephew
Nasreen
Honeyway
Charlottesville
Fairway
Prince Chevalier
Noorani
Noorani
SireGreat Nephew
Noorani
Ginetta
Ginetta
SireGreat Nephew
Ginetta
Honeyway
Tulyar
Diableretta (Family 9-c)
Diableretta (Family 9-c)
SireGreat Nephew
Diableretta (Family 9-c)
SireGreat Nephew
Honeyway
Fairway
Phalaris
Scapa Flow
Honey Buzzard
Papyrus
Lady Peregrine
Sybil's Niece
Admiral's Walk
Hyperion
Tabaris
Sybil's Sister
Nearco
Sister Sarah
DamSharmeen
Val de Loir
Vieux Manoir
Brantôme
Vielle Maison
Vali
Sunny Boy
Her Slipper
Nasreen
Charlottesville
Prince Chevalier
Noorani
Ginetta
Tulyar
Diableretta (Family 9-c)

References

  1. Horses are traditionally sold in guineas, which are worth £1.05; 325,000 guineas equates to £393,750 in 1984 prices.
  2. Toby puts the call at "around midnight" on the Tuesday night, while the sports commentator Derek Thompson says it was at
  3. The photograph was included in the security files researched by Milton Toby for his history of the events. He writes "Al
  4. Toby 2018, p. 28.
  5. Pickering & Ross 1985, p. 162.
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  13. Baerlein 1984, p. 78.
  14. Baerlein 1984, pp. 78–79.
  15. Baerlein 1984, p. 79.
  16. Seely 1980a, p. 16.
  17. Baerlein 1980a, p. 3.
  18. Baerlein 1984, pp. 80–81.
  19. Baerlein 1980b, p. 17.
  20. "Racing". The Observer.
  21. Seely 1980b, p. 16.
  22. Baerlein 1984, pp. 82–83.
  23. Seely 1981a, p. 7.
  24. Baerlein 1981a, p. 17.
  25. Baerlein 1984, p. 83.
  26. Seely 1981b, p. 9.
  27. Baerlein 1981a, p. 21.
  28. Eklund & Rosenkjær.
  29. Baerlein 1981b, p. 23.
  30. Phillips 1981a, p. 11.
  31. Searching for Shergar. BBC. 7 June 2018, Event occurs at 16:55–17:00.
  32. Cairns.
  33. Baerlein 1981c, p. 23.
  34. Baerlein 1984, pp. 99–100.
  35. Toby 2018, p. 67.
  36. Toby 2018, pp. 65–66.
  37. "Irish Derby: 1981–1990". The Curragh Racecourse.
  38. Searching for Shergar. BBC. 7 June 2018, Event occurs at 20:40–20:50.
  39. Searching for Shergar. BBC. 7 June 2018, Event occurs at 20:56–21:05.
  40. Baerlein 1981d, p. 21.
  41. "Stud Poker. An extraordinary time at the horses". The Economist, p. 86.
  42. Baerlein 1984, p. 120.
  43. Baerlein 1981e, p. 24.
  44. Phillips 1981b, p. 13.
  45. Baerlein 1984, pp. 116–117.
  46. Baerlein 1984, p. 118.
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  48. Toby 2018, p. 40.
  49. "Stud Poker. An extraordinary time at the horses". The Economist.
  50. "Racehorse Sold for Record-Breaking £5.25m". The Daily Telegraph.
  51. Toby 2018, p. 177.
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  53. Toby 2018, p. 178.
  54. "Haughey Placed, FitzGerald Nobbled". The Economist.
  55. Alderson & Byrne 2008.
  56. Adams 1986, p. 204.
  57. Fitzpatrick 2013.
  58. Slot 2001, p. 12.
  59. David 1986, pp. 18–19.
  60. Turner 1984, p. ii.
  61. Searching for Shergar. BBC. 7 June 2018, Event occurs at 30:50–32:05.
  62. Baerlein 1984, p. 146.
  63. David 1986, p. 18.
  64. Toby 2018, p. 89.
  65. Toby 2018, pp. 91–92.
  66. Baerlein 1984, pp. 146–147.
  67. Toby 2018, p. 92.
  68. Searching for Shergar. BBC. 7 June 2018, Event occurs at 37:00–38:00.
  69. Toby 2018, p. 93.
  70. Thompson 2013, p. 106.
  71. Bedford 2013.
  72. Toby 2018, pp. 92–93.
  73. Baerlein 1984, p. 163.
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  75. Toby 2018, p. 94.
  76. Toby 2018, p. 95.
  77. Adams 1986, pp. 204–205.
  78. Searching for Shergar. BBC. 7 June 2018, Event occurs at 37:10–37:35.
  79. Toby 2018, pp. 98–99.
  80. Toby 2018, p. 99.
  81. Adams 1986, p. 205.
  82. Who Kidnapped Shergar?. RTÉ. 11 March 2004, Event occurs at 21:30–21:50.
  83. Who Kidnapped Shergar?. RTÉ. 11 March 2004, Event occurs at 23:45–27:05.
  84. Toby 2018, pp. 97–98.
  85. Adams 1986, p. 206.
  86. Toby 2018, p. 98.
  87. Who Kidnapped Shergar?. RTÉ. 11 March 2004, Event occurs at 27:20–27:45.
  88. Who Kidnapped Shergar?. RTÉ. 11 March 2004, Event occurs at 27:50–28:15.
  89. Baerlein 1984, p. 150.
  90. Toby 2018, pp. 99–100.
  91. Baerlein 1984, pp. 151–152.
  92. Toby 2018, pp. 100–101.
  93. Who Kidnapped Shergar?. RTÉ. 11 March 2004, Event occurs at 45:20–45.35.
  94. Toby 2018, pp. 90 and 94.
  95. Ford 1983, p. 3.
  96. Toby 2018, pp. 94–95.
  97. Searching for Shergar. BBC. 7 June 2018, Event occurs at 33:45–34:15 and 37:45–38:20.
  98. "Shergar shrouded in mystery 20 years on". Irish News.
  99. Searching for Shergar. BBC. 7 June 2018, Event occurs at 42:20–42:30.
  100. Kelner 2004, p. 32.
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  102. Who Kidnapped Shergar?. RTÉ. 11 March 2004, Event occurs at 14:45–14:55.
  103. Toby 2018, p. 109.
  104. Baerlein 1984, p. 161.
  105. Turner 2010, p. 279.
  106. Who Kidnapped Shergar?. RTÉ. 11 March 2004, Event occurs at 23:10–23:25.
  107. Baerlein 1984, p. 162.
  108. Murtagh 1983, p. 1.
  109. Searching for Shergar. BBC. 7 June 2018, Event occurs at 44:10–47:55.
  110. Flynn 1986, p. 1.
  111. Searching for Shergar. BBC. 7 June 2018, Event occurs at 48:20–48:30.
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  113. Toby 2018, pp. 128–129.
  114. "Aviva plc: Landmark Events". Aviva plc. 2008.
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  116. Toby 2018, pp. 136–137.
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  118. Moloney 1989, p. 10.
  119. Who Kidnapped Shergar?. RTÉ. 11 March 2004, Event occurs at 39:03–39:50.
  120. Wilkinson 1982, p. 150.
  121. Moloney 2007, 5605.
  122. Clutterbuck 1987, p. 28.
  123. Searching for Shergar. BBC. 7 June 2018, Event occurs at 28:20–29:30.
  124. Moloney 2007, 5171.
  125. O'Callaghan 1999, p. 193.
  126. Who Kidnapped Shergar?. RTÉ. 11 March 2004, Event occurs at 40:15–41:15.
  127. O'Callaghan 1999, p. 194.
  128. Who Kidnapped Shergar?. RTÉ. 11 March 2004, Event occurs at 41:20–41:15.
  129. Toby 2018, pp. 135–136.
  130. O'Callaghan 1999, pp. 194–195.
  131. Who Kidnapped Shergar?. RTÉ. 11 March 2004, Event occurs at 46:15–46:50.
  132. Who Kidnapped Shergar?. RTÉ. 11 March 2004, Event occurs at 44:45–45:20.
  133. Who Kidnapped Shergar?. RTÉ. 11 March 2004, Event occurs at 42:00–42:45.
  134. Who Kidnapped Shergar?. RTÉ. 11 March 2004, Event occurs at 42:45–42:55.
  135. Toby 2018, p. 134.
  136. Searching for Shergar. BBC. 7 June 2018, Event occurs at 49:00–49:10.
  137. Toby 2018, p. 185.
  138. Walker 1995, p. 9.
  139. Searching for Shergar. BBC. 7 June 2018, Event occurs at 54:20–54:30.
  140. Searching for Shergar. BBC. 7 June 2018, Event occurs at 54:30–54:40.
  141. Searching for Shergar. BBC. 7 June 2018, Events occur at 49:40–50:25 and 56:30–57:25.
  142. Wood 1999, p. 26.
  143. "Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup and Concert". Ascot Racecourse.
  144. "Horse racing's answer to the Ryder Cup: Europe V Middle East". The Evening Standard.
  145. "History". Aga Khan Studs.
  146. Hebert 1986, p. 21.
  147. "Shergar (2000)". British Film Institute.
  148. "Who Kidnapped Shergar?...Find Out This Week!". Irish Film and Television Network.
  149. "Searching for Shergar". BBC.
  150. Baerlein 1984, pp. 175–178.
  151. "Shergar". Aga Khan Studs.
  152. "Shergar (GB)". equineline.com.
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