The BBC podcast will tell the story of the kidnapping of champion Irish racehorse Shergar from Ballymany Stud, County Kildare, in 1983.
American rapper Vanilla Ice will narrate a new BBC podcast on the kidnapping of Shergar, the champion Irish racehorse.
The seven-episode podcast series entitled The disappearance of Shergar the super horse is part of the new BBC 5 Live and BBC Sounds podcast, ‘Sport’s Strangest Crimes’.
The story of Shergar – as told by Vanilla Ice
The musician, best known for his 1990 hit ‘Ice Ice Baby’, was chosen as the unlikely narrator of the new podcast on the kidnapping of Shergar.
Speaking to iNews on the podcast’s release, Vanilla Ice said he considers himself a horseracing “superfan”. He revealed he has long been fascinated by the disappearance of the racehorse, which remains unsolved to this day.
Introducing the podcast, the musician tells listeners, “I’m Rob Van Winkle. You may know me better as Vanilla Ice, from singing, dancing, movies and renovating houses. That’s right, I renovate, just like Kirstie Allsopp but with more tattoos than a ball cat.
He continues, “In this podcast series, I am going to grab the reins and take you through Shergar’s last paces.”
A champion racehorse – a sad tale
The new podcast on the kidnapping of Shergar will delve deep into the story of the horse’s mysterious disappearance.
Shergar, who was owned by the Aga Khan, made his name in racing when he won the 1981 Epsom Derby by a record ten lengths.
After this, he had four more major derby wins and was named European Horse of the Year. However, in late 1981, he was retired to Ballymun Stud in County Kildare, Ireland.
In early 1983, Shergar, along with groom Jim Fitzgerald, was kidnapped by an armed gang of men wearing balaclavas
Fitzgerald was released three hours later, without Shergar.
Demands for ransom – an unsolved mystery
The new BBC podcast on the kidnapping of Shergar will explain the details of this still-unsolved mystery.
After the kidnapping, a ransom of £2 million was demanded. However, it was never paid, and Shergar was never found. No arrests have ever been made concerning the case.
Speaking on his role as narrator, Vanilla Ice spoke about his love for horses.
He said, “I love horses; I love watching them. There’s just something about horses; they are as tranquil as the ocean. Horses are awesome.
“Shergar the horse has become legend over the years, a household name, and one of the most fascinating stories ever. It’s like the Titanic; many ships have sunk, so why is the Titanic such a mystery?
“And that’s what Shergar is; it’s a big mystery, nobody knows where the horse is, it’s an amazing story.”
You can listen to the podcast on BBC Sounds here.
