Princess Zahra Aga Khan, daughter of one of the owners of the stolen racehorse Shergar, has revealed that the prized stallion was tragically killed within 48 hours of being abducted in 1983. The incident, which occurred at the Ballymany Stud farm in County Kildare, Ireland, remains shrouded in mystery to this day. The ransom demand of £2 million was deemed unpayable by Princess Zahra Aga Khan, citing practical and ethical reasons for not meeting the demand.
The IRA were suspected of orchestrating the theft, which involved six armed individuals and the subsequent ransom request. Princess Zahra Aga Khan explained that her father, a prominent figure in the Ismaili Muslim community, could not fulfill the ransom alone due to the horse being part of a syndicate that required unanimous agreement.
In an interview with Telegraph Sport, Princess Zahra Aga Khan recounted her father’s dilemma, highlighting that Shergar was uninsured against kidnapping, as the concept seemed implausible at the time. She emphasized that even if the ransom could be paid, it was unthinkable to support activities detrimental to human life.
Devastatingly, Shergar met his untimely end just two days after the abduction, in a manner described by Princess Zahra Aga Khan as unprofessional and cruel. The horse, known for his gentle nature, represented a significant symbol in Irish breeding and racing, making his brutal fate all the more distressing.
Despite decades passing since the incident, Shergar’s remains have never been located, and no party has officially taken responsibility for the theft. The Aga Khan, who passed away in 2025 at the age of 88, left behind a legacy marked by the enduring mystery of Shergar’s disappearance.
