What was Shergar’s race record?

Sadly, Shergar will always be best remembered not for his career as a racehorse, but for his mysterious disappearance from the Ballymany Stud, Co. Kildare in February, 1983, after which he was never seen alive again. Nevertheless, the fact remains that Shergar was an outstanding racehorse, who won six of his eight races, including the Guardian Classic Trial, Chester Vase, Derby, Irish Derby and King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

Indeed, his 10-length victory in the 1981 Derby – which led commentator Peter Bromley to exclaim, ‘…you need a telescope to see the rest!’ – remains the widest winning margin in the history of the Epsom Classic. His career ended in disappointment when only fourth, beaten 11½ lengths, on unfavourable soft going, in the St. Leger Stakes at Doncaster. A proposed trip to Longchamp for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe was called off and Shergar was, instead, retired to stud.

Even so, Shergar was awarded a Timeform Annual Rating of 140, placing him alongside such luminaries of the sport as Dancing Brave and Sea The Stars. At the end of his racing career, he was syndicated for £10 million, making him, for a time, the most famous and valuable horse in the world.