Princess Zahra Aga Khan, the daughter of one of the owners of the famous racehorse Shergar, has revealed that the prized stallion was killed shortly after being stolen. The incident took place in 1983 at the Ballymany Stud farm in County Kildare, Ireland, sparking widespread speculation.
The theft of the legendary racehorse, valued at £2 million, was shrouded in mystery. The main suspects were believed to be members of the IRA, who orchestrated the crime with six armed individuals and demanded a ransom of £2 million. However, Princess Zahra Aga Khan stated that her father, the spiritual leader of the Ismaili Muslims, refused to pay the ransom for practical and ethical reasons.
According to Princess Zahra, the horse met a tragic end within two days of being taken, a fact that was previously unknown. She explained that her father faced challenges in paying the ransom as Shergar was owned by a syndicate, requiring unanimous agreement on the course of action.
Reflecting on the tragic event, Princess Zahra emphasized that Shergar, the 1981 Derby winner, was not insured against kidnapping due to the unlikely nature of such an incident involving a horse. She also highlighted her father’s stance against funding activities that could harm humans, even if he had the means to pay the ransom.
Furthermore, Princess Zahra disclosed that Shergar’s demise occurred sooner than initially believed, describing the manner in which the horse was killed as unprofessional and cruel. She expressed deep sorrow over the treatment of the gentle stallion, emphasizing his significance as a symbol of Irish breeding and racing.
Despite extensive investigations, Shergar’s remains have never been recovered, and no one has officially claimed responsibility for the theft. The Aga Khan, the co-owner of Shergar, passed away at the age of 88 in 2025.
