Here is an article from today on CNN:
There are as many stories as there are Irishmen.
Short version, he died in the kidnappers care.
Emily
NO! The true story is that he was kidnapped to use as a pawn by thugs who were not horsepeople and when they couldn’t handle him (he was a kind horse), they just didn’t have a clue and didn’t have a soul amongst them – he was MURDERED because he became a liability.
PennyG
Yes supposedly he broke his leg (or hurt it badly), became increasingly upset and they had to kill him. Unfortunately they did not know HOW to kill him and machine gunned him to death. He bled to death. According to this former IRA guy.
That’s really a sad ending…
I was hoping that the kidnapping went badly so the kidnappers dropped him off in a field somewhere and he spent the rest of his life making little Shergars in obscurity…
He had one crop before he was lost. Does anyone know if there were any notable offspring and is there any left of his line today?
He was kidnapped for ransom. That was one of the ways the IRA financed themselves, besides robbing banks/post offices and getting donations from gullible 2nd, 3rd and 4th generation Irish-American donors.
It is generally thought that his body was disposed off in a bog in the wilds of Leitrim. As others mentioned he was injured either in transit or not long after reaching his destination and the level of veterinary care he required wasn’t something that could be provided in hiding. The whole thing apparently went arse ways because the IRA cell that was sent to do the job was from West Belfast and probably wouldn’t have known a horse if it kicked them between the eyes, much less how to handle a TB stallion. They were more used for kidnapping people. This apparently caused some mild rumblings within the ranks of the IRA itself, that southern ‘volunteers’ with a more horsey/farming background weren’t sent to do the job (though that was probably not so much out of the horse’s welfare, but moreso because of an opportunity lost).
That the IRA never publicly admitted to the kidnapping was a factor of the outcry among the general public in Ireland (though everyone knew who did it) and the PR disaster it would have been for them.
Shergar’s best known offspring were Authall (who was actually foaled in KY, where his dam had been sent to be covered by Alydar), he won the Irish St Leger and was was sent to Aus where he was a multiple G1 winner 10 and 12f. Also the filly Maysoon, who was 2nd in the 1000 Guineas.
I think he had several other minor stakes winners from his one crop of 35 odd foals. Pity he never got to really prove himself more at stud, and leave a mark, as he was from somewhat old fashioned (even then in early 80’s) bloodlines that have all but died out.
Anyway, this is how we should remember Shergar…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Uf0B02SXNs
His greatest performance. Still gives me chills, 32 years later, watching that amazing turn of foot as he rounds Tattenham Corner and turns for home and young Wally Swinburn drops his hands and the horse explodes up the hill… scintillating.
[QUOTE=Drvmb1ggl3;6828044]
He was kidnapped for ransom. That was one of the ways the IRA financed themselves, besides robbing banks/post offices and getting donations from gullible 2nd, 3rd and 4th generation Irish-American donors.
It is generally thought that his body was disposed off in a bog in the wilds of Leitrim. As others mentioned he was injured either in transit or not long after reaching his destination and the level of veterinary care he required wasn’t something that could be provided in hiding. The whole thing apparently went arse ways because the IRA cell that was sent to do the job was from West Belfast and probably wouldn’t have known a horse if it kicked them between the eyes, much less how to handle a TB stallion. They were more used for kidnapping people. This apparently caused some mild rumblings within the ranks of the IRA itself, that southern ‘volunteers’ with a more horsey/farming background weren’t sent to do the job (though that was probably not so much out of the horse’s welfare, but moreso because of an opportunity lost).
That the IRA never publicly admitted to the kidnapping was a factor of the outcry among the general public in Ireland (though everyone knew who did it) and the PR disaster it would have been for them.
Shergar’s best known offspring were Authall (who was actually foaled in KY, where his dam had been sent to be covered by Alydar), he won the Irish St Leger and was was sent to Aus where he was a multiple G1 winner 10 and 12f. Also the filly Maysoon, who was 2nd in the 1000 Guineas.
I think he had several other minor stakes winners from his one crop of 35 odd foals. Pity he never got to really prove himself more at stud, and leave a mark, as he was from somewhat old fashioned (even then in early 80’s) bloodlines that have all but died out.
Anyway, this is how we should remember Shergar…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Uf0B02SXNs
His greatest performance. Still gives me chills, 32 years later, watching that amazing turn of foot as he rounds Tattenham Corner and turns for home and young Wally Swinburn drops his hands and the horse explodes up the hill… scintillating.[/QUOTE]
That was wonderful to watch. Reminiscent of Secretariat’s bold moves. Too bad the genetics are all but lost.
Thank you for the link.
Mayhap someday, someone, will come across some bones, and using today’s DNA techniques identify them as Shergar.
[QUOTE=merrygoround;6832796]
Thank you for the link.
Mayhap someday, someone, will come across some bones, and using today’s DNA techniques identify them as Shergar.[/QUOTE]
Other bones have been found, talk of Shergar surfaces, and they check into it. Example: BBC April 14, 2000 “Shergar link to skull discounted”
Tests carried out at the Irish Equine Centre, in County Kildare, found the skull belonged to a much younger horse than the racing legend was when he was abducted.
He had offspring.
If they dumped him in a bog he’ll never be found most likely, at least by anyone who would remember a racehorse named Shergar! I think if he could have been found he would have by now.
