Shergar was an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse by Great Nephew out of Sharmeen. He was foaled in March 1978, and was owned by Aga Khan. He showed some promise as a racer, winning the Epsom Derby, the Irish Derby, and other notable races. He was retired to stud in 1981. The horse was kidnapped in 1983. Thieves demanded a ransom of two million dollars, which Aga Khan refused to pay. In 1999 a supergrass, formerly in the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA), stated they stole the horse. The IRA has never admitted any role in the theft. There are a lot of conspiracy theories about who stole him, why, and why the ransom was not paid. There are just as many about his whereabouts and what had happened to him. Shergar was never recovered. This case hurt my horse girl heart for so many reasons, and I hope that Shergar did not meet a violent or terrifying end. The book was decent enough to read, if you are interested in the facts of the case.