Shergar
Shergar was an impressive racehorse, and winner of the 1981 Epsom Derby by a record distance. The easiest Derby winner in history, Shergar was syndicated by his breeder the Aga Khan after the Irish Derby.
On February 8 1983 the horse was kidnapped from Ballymany Stud, near the Curragh in County Kildare, Ireland. An Irish radio station received a ransom demand for £1.5 million. There were suggestions that the IRA were behind the kidnap. The horse was never recovered and to this day his fate is still unknown. He was the third famous race horse in history to be kidnapped. The other two were Carnauba and Franfeluche both recovered alive.
The disappearance of Shergar was such a big story, it was made into a Hollywood film, Shergar, in August 1998, released in 1999, and starring Sir Ian Holm, Mickey Rourke, David Warner, Gary Cady, Alan Barker, Billy Boyle, and Stephen Brennan. Directed by Dennis Lewison.
Referenced By
1981 in sports | 1983 in sports | Epsom Derby | Horse-race | Horse-racing | Horse race | Horse racing | Horserace | Horseracing | Ireland in the 20th Century | Irish Derby Stakes | List of historical horses | Race horse | Racehorse
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