Shergar, the 1981 Derby-winning racehorse, was killed within two days of being kidnapped, according to Princess Zahra Aga Khan, the daughter of one of the horse’s co-owners. The horse was seized in 1983 by six armed men from an Irish stud farm, and the kidnapping led to a ransom demand of £2 million.

Princess Zahra, who was 12 years old at the time, revealed that the ransom was not paid because her father refused to provide funds he believed would be used to harm people. She described the killing of Shergar as “very unprofessionally done” and “awful,” indicating the horse’s death occurred shortly after the failed ransom negotiations.

The incident has long been associated with the Irish Republican Army (IRA), who were suspected of orchestrating the kidnapping. Despite efforts to recover Shergar, the horse was never found or returned. The case remains one of the most notorious unsolved crimes in the racing world.

Shergar was a celebrated champion, known for his dominance at the Epsom Derby and other prestigious races. His disappearance and subsequent death dealt a significant blow to the thoroughbred racing community and underscored the risks faced by high-profile assets during politically turbulent times in Ireland.

The revelations from Princess Zahra provide new insight into the tragic outcome of the kidnapping, decades after the event. Her remarks highlight the moral considerations faced by her family at the time, prioritizing the opposition to ransom demands over the recovery of the horse.