February 8, 1983

On this day in 1983, thoroughbred stallion race horse Shergar, named Europe’s Horse of the Year in 1981, was kidnapped from a farm in County Kildare. Shergar was owned by the Aga Khan and worth approximately $13.5 million. On the night of February 8th, armed men arrived at the home of James Fitzpatrick, one of Shergar’s grooms. The kidnappers demanded Fitzpatrick lead them to Shergar’s stable and made him load the horse into the truck. Fitzpatrick was then left on the side of the road in a remote area. The kidnappers demanded a ransom of $2 million for the return of the horse, however negotiations fell through and Shergar was never seen again. The case remains unsolved.