Aga Khan Dies, 1957

Leinster Leader, 13 July 1957

The Aga Khan, religious leader of about ten million Moslems, died in Geneva on Thursday following a heart attack. He had been ill for some time. His wife, the Begum, and sons, Aly Khan and Sadruddin were present at his bedside. He would have celebrated his 80th birthday in November.

The Aga Khan, who was a great supporter of horse-racing, had many connections with Ireland and with County Kildare in particular. He owned four studs in Co. Kildare – Sheshoon, Gilltown, Ballymany and Sallymount – and one at Ongar, Co. Dublin. Horses owned by him won practically every event in the racing calendar, including thirty-five classic races. He won five English Derbies and five Irish Derbies, and the colt, Bahram, won the Guineas, Derby and St. Leger for him. One of the famous horses he owned in recent years was Tulyar, which set a record for prize winnings and was purchased by the Irish National Stud for £250,000. He was later sold by the Stud to America.

It is not known who will succeed the Aga Khan as religious leader of the Moslems; his successor will be nominated in his will, but up to the time of his death the Aga Khan declined to divulge the name of his successor. It is, however, generally anticipated that his son, Prince Aly Khan, will succeed to the leadership.

Re-typed by Jennifer O’Connor