An $80,000 statue of an 1886 Kentucky Derby winner was stolen in California; thieves sawed through its legs and left one hoof behind | World News

An $80,000 life-size bronze statue of Ben Ali, the horse that won the 1886 Kentucky Derby, has been stolen from a road median in Sacramento, California. The nearly 7-foot statue had stood on Del Paso Boulevard for almost two decades and commemorated the horse’s connection to the city’s historic Rancho Del Paso. When the theft was discovered, only a single bronze hoof remained attached to the concrete base. Sacramento police are investigating the disappearance and have asked the public for information about the statue or those responsible. The theft has removed a distinctive landmark from North Sacramento and left behind an unusual mystery over how a large bronze horse was taken from a public location.

The 1886 Kentucky Derby winner behind the statue

Ben Ali won the 12th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in 1886 and became the first horse with a California connection to win the race. He was associated with Rancho Del Paso, a major horse-breeding operation in the Sacramento area. The ranch was established by James Ben Ali Haggin and became one of the most prominent thoroughbred breeding operations in the United States during the late 19th century. Ben Ali’s Derby victory became part of the region’s racing history and helped preserve the connection between the horse and Sacramento. More than a century later, that history was commemorated with a bronze statue on Del Paso Boulevard. The sculpture was created to honour Ben Ali and recognise his association with the historic Rancho Del Paso.

The $80,000 statue became a Sacramento landmark

The life-size bronze statue was installed on Del Paso Boulevard in 2007 and formally dedicated in 2008. It stood near the Sacramento Youth Center in the 1900 block of Del Paso Boulevard at Winnipeg Street. The sculpture was positioned on a concrete base in the road median and became a familiar feature of the North Sacramento neighbourhood. The statue was valued at approximately $80,000 and represented more than an artwork because it commemorated a specific chapter in the city’s history. For nearly two decades, residents and people travelling through the area could see the bronze horse standing at the site connected to Ben Ali’s legacy. Its disappearance has now left an empty space where the historic monument once stood.

Thieves sawed through the bronze horse’s legs

The theft was discovered after the statue was removed from its concrete mounting. Reports said the thieves sawed through the bronze legs to take the horse, leaving one hoof behind on the base. The remaining hoof and severed section of the sculpture provided a visible indication of how the monument had been removed. Taking a nearly 7-foot bronze statue would have required considerable effort and some means of transporting the heavy sculpture away from the site. Despite the unusual nature of the theft, investigators have not publicly established a motive. It is also unclear whether the thieves intended to sell the bronze for scrap, resell the artwork or had another reason for targeting the monument. Police are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the disappearance.

Only one hoof was left behind

The theft has drawn attention because of the unusual scene left at the former location. Instead of finding the complete statue, people were left with the concrete base and a single bronze hoof. Images of the site show the severed section where the horse had previously stood, highlighting the scale of the theft. Community members have expressed disappointment over the loss because the statue was a visible reminder of North Sacramento’s connection to thoroughbred racing. The monument also carried historical significance because of Ben Ali’s connection to Rancho Del Paso and his Kentucky Derby victory. Replacing the sculpture would be expensive, with reports putting its value at around $80,000. The city does not have immediate funds set aside to replace it.

Police are searching for the missing statue

Sacramento police are investigating the theft and have asked anyone who may have information to contact authorities. Investigators are working to determine who removed the statue and where it may have been taken. The Del Paso Boulevard Business Association has also drawn attention to the disappearance as community members hope the sculpture can be recovered. The case remains open and there is no confirmed motive for the theft. Until the statue is found, the single bronze hoof is the only remaining piece visible at its former location. What began as a monument to an 1886 Kentucky Derby winner has therefore become the centre of an unusual modern-day theft investigation in Sacramento.