Late in the evening on February 8, 1983, Epsom Derby winner and European Horse of the Year Shegar was taken from his stall at Ballymany Stud near The Curragh in Ireland. Although conventional wisdom at the time–and still today–implicated the Irish Republican Army in the theft, the IRA never has claimed responsibility for spiriting Shergar away in the night.
Ranson was demanded for Shergar but never paid, and the horse was not recovered. Theories about the theft of Shergar abound to this day, but no one–at least no one who is talking–knows for certain what really happened. The mysterious fate of the champion remains the emergency home solutions foundation of horse racing’s most famous cold case.
I’m working on a book about the Shergar theft, searching for the story behind the mystery. You can follow the progress of my research here, on Twitter at #TakingShergar, or on Facebook. Feel free to get in touch with me through the contact page here, or directly at milt.toby@miltonctoby.com.
Any thoughts or suggestions are welcome!
Ranson was demanded for Shergar but never paid, and the horse was not recovered. Theories about the theft of Shergar abound to this day, but no one–at least no one who is talking–knows for certain what really happened. The mysterious fate of the champion remains the emergency home solutions foundation of horse racing’s most famous cold case.
I’m working on a book about the Shergar theft, searching for the story behind the mystery. You can follow the progress of my research here, on Twitter at #TakingShergar, or on Facebook. Feel free to get in touch with me through the contact page here, or directly at milt.toby@miltonctoby.com.
Any thoughts or suggestions are welcome!