Just turned 88 years old, jet set, big tourist operation on the Emerald Coast, Imam of the Ishmaelite Muslims, but above all horses, many horses especially females. This is the communiqué from his staff passed in the past few hours: ‘His Highness Prince Karim Al-Hussaini, Aga Khan IV, 49th hereditary Imam of the Shiite Ishmaelite Muslims and direct descendant of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him),’ reads the official note, ‘died peacefully in Lisbon on 4 February 2025, at the age of 88, surrounded by his family.’
Karim Aga Khan’s passing certainly leaves a void of nobility in what is less and less the ‘sport of kings’. Winner five times of the Epsom Derby, including that of Shergar, the horse that was kidnapped and never found; four Arc de Triomphe, the last of which with that fantastic mare named Zarkava undefeated in his career, but also seven Prix du Jockey Club, six Irish Derbies and we could go on for who knows how long. The emerald green jacket with red epaulettes and green cap excelled a little on all the tracks in Europe and beyond. From a purely horse racing point of view, he began his career as a major owner before moving to France for good in the mid-1960s. Among those who were the trainers of his thoroughbreds are the names of Alec Head, Francois Mathet, Alain de Royer-Dupre, Michael Stoute and also the Italian Luca Cumani.
Known also for his philanthropic work, he had also set up a very important breeding farm thanks to the high quality females that, having been retired from racing, had been put into breeding. While the messages of condolence and testimonies from the horse racing world are being counted by the dozens, there is now clearly great expectation to know what will be his dispositions for his heirs, first and foremost Princess Zahra Aga Khan, who was also a great galloping enthusiast.
