The armed kidnapping of Shergar, one of the most successful racing horses in history, happened this week 38 years ago– 8 February 1983 . The thoroughbred racehorse, who had been named European Horse of Year in 1981, was retired to the Ballumany Stud in County Kildare, where he had sired 35 foals.
Did the IRA kidnap Shergar?
He was born in Kildare in 1978 and kidnapped by an armed gang in 1983 . It was believed Shergar – valued at £10m – was taken by the IRA, which was short of money and looking for new sources of funding. He was expected to be a source of profit for the syndicate which owned him.
Which horse was kidnapped in 1981 and never found?
Gunmen steal the champion Irish race horse Shergar from a stud farm owned by the Aga Khan in County Kildare, Ireland. The five-year-old thoroughbred stallion, named European horse of the year in 1981, was worth $13.5 million and commanded stud fees of approximately $100,000.
Where was Shergar stolen?
Shergar won the Epsom Derby by 10 lengths, the Irish Derby and three other races in a dazzling career as a three-year-old in 1981. He was retired to Ballymany Stud in Co Kildare where he was stolen from on the night of February 9th, 1983.
Did Shergar sire any foals?
Shergar sired 35 foals , including Authaal, who was bought as a yearling by Sheikh Mohammed for Ir3,100,000gns and went on to win the Irish St Leger, and Maysoon, who won the Fred Darling Stakes and reached the places in the 1,000 Guineas and Oaks.
Was shergar ever found?
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.
Is Red Rum still alive?
Red Rum died on 18 October 1995 , aged 30. His death was one of the lead items in television news bulletins and also made the front pages of national newspapers the next day. He was buried at the winning post of the Aintree Racecourse, which is still a destination for his fans.
Who is the most famous race horse?
- Seattle Slew. No one expected the diminutive colt named Seattle Slew to become one of the biggest names in the history of horse racing. ...
- Seabiscuit. ...
- Man o' War. ...
- Citation. ...
- American Pharoah.
How much do jockeys get paid if they win?
However, as a general rule of thumb Flat jockeys receive around 7% of the advertised win prize and 3% of the advertised place prize . Jump Jockeys receive around 9% of the win prize and 4% of the place prize. The riding fee is negotiated annually between the PJA and the ROA.
Has any horse won the Grand National twice?
Tiger Roll , who won the Randox Grand National in 2017 and 2018 has become the modern-day hero, being the only horse to have won two consecutive Grand National races after racing legend, Red Rum.
What is shergar worth?
Shergar, a beloved thoroughbred racehorse worth over $15 million , was kidnapped from his stable in County Kildare by a gang of machine gun-wielding men in balaclavas. After failed attempts to demand money for the stallion, gentle Shergar was brutally killed and his body was never found.
Did Red Rum get stolen?
No-one has ever admitted the theft of Shergar. The body has never been found . The most valuable horse in the world disappeared without trace.
Who was Shergar jockey?
Walter Robert John Swinburn (7 August 1961 – 12 December 2016) was a flat racing jockey and trainer who competed in Great Britain and internationally.
Is Lester Piggott married?
He is still married , after 55 years, to Susan. But Piggott and his girlfriend, Lady Barbara Fitzgerald, with whom he lives near Geneva, have just driven from Paris to London.
What happened to Frankel the horse?
On 20 October Frankel won the Champion Stakes at Ascot over ten furlongs . ... He had attracted a sell-out crowd of 32,000, who cheered him home from three furlongs out. After the race Prince Khalid Abdullah confirmed that the horse would be retired to stud.
Which horse died in Melbourne Cup today?
Victoria's racing industry will adopt tougher screening for horses after a review found the fatal injuries suffered by stallion Anthony Van Dyck in last year's Melbourne Cup may have been avoided if he underwent a CT scan.
