Rock of Gibraltar, the legendary racehorse part-owned by Sir Alex Ferguson and central to a feud that led to the Glazer takeover at Manchester United, has died aged 23.
The record-breaking champion racehorse passed away with heart failure on Sunday night, it was confirmed by Coolmore Stud. A statement read: "He was healthy and looking great right up to the end. He was a fantastic racehorse and a very good sire who will be missed by all the staff here."
On the track, Rock of Gibraltar earned acclaim for seven consecutive Group 1 wins in the Northern Hemisphere, becoming the first horse to achieve the feat. But the racehorse will be most remembered in footballing circles as the inadvertent central figure of a bitter dispute that ultimately led to the maligned Glazer family taking over at Old Trafford.
The Glazer ownership that has been protested against so vehemently by United supporters for 17 years perhaps would not have materialised without the Rock of Gibraltar. Then-manager Ferguson became locked in a legal battle with racing tycoon John Magnier over the horse after his retirement from racing in 2003.
Legendary Scot Ferguson took legal action against Magnier, crucially a shareholder at Old Trafford alongside JP McManus, because he believed he was being short-changed over breeding rights of the horse. It had been estimated that Rock of Gibraltar was worth up to £200million due to his expensive breeding fees, and Ferguson, who co-owned the horse with Magnier's wife Sue, wanted to cash in on a prize asset.
But Magnier's Coolmore conglomerate were adamant that Ferguson was owed half of only the prize money made by the horse, rather than its stud career, which led to an almighty feud. Due to Magnier's involvement at Old Trafford, supporters had planned a Cheltenham Gold Cup protest in 2004, which Ferguson was publicly forced to appeal not to do.
Ferguson eventually settled out of court for £2.5m, which was a figure significantly lower to what he initially believed he was owed. But more importantly for United, the dispute had led to a complete breakdown in relationship between the pair that once were considered friends.
Malcom Glazer then capitalised on the fractured relationships at Old Trafford, with Magnier and Irish business partner McManus unhappy with the running of the club. The American tycoon pounced by buying the duo's 28.7% stake in 2005, which provided the route to gaining full control.
Glazer soon acquired a controlling stake at Old Trafford and his family have been subject to large-scale protests after presiding over United's decade period without a Premier League trophy, while continuing to take dividends out of the club.
