A life-size bronze statue of Ben Ali, the 1886 Kentucky Derby winner, valued at $80,000, was stolen from a median on Del Paso Boulevard in Sacramento, California. The nearly seven-foot-tall statue, which stood there for almost two decades, had its legs sawed through by thieves who left behind only one hoof attached to the concrete base. Police are investigating and seeking public assistance to find clues about both the theft and those responsible.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-05,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
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.
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that → win → Sacramento
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.
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statue → stand → Paso
When the theft was discovered, only a single bronze hoof remained attached to the concrete base.
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hoof → discover → base
Sacramento police are investigating the disappearance and have asked the public for information about the statue or those responsible.
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police → investigate → statue
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.
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horse → remove → 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.
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winner → win → race
He was associated with Rancho Del Paso, a major horse-breeding operation in the Sacramento area.
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He → associate → 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.
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ranch → establish → century
Ben Ali’s Derby victory became part of the region’s racing history and helped preserve the connection between the horse and Sacramento.
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victory → become → horse
More than a century later, that history was commemorated with a bronze statue on Del Paso Boulevard.
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history → commemorate → Boulevard
The sculpture was created to honour Ben Ali and recognise his association with the historic Rancho Del Paso.
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sculpture → create → 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.
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statue → become → 2008
It stood near the Sacramento Youth Center in the 1900 block of Del Paso Boulevard at Winnipeg Street.
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It → stand → Street
The sculpture was positioned on a concrete base in the road median and became a familiar feature of the North Sacramento neighbourhood.
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sculpture → position → 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.
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it → value → 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.
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horse → travel → legacy
Its disappearance has now left an empty space where the historic monument once stood.
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monument → leave → space
Thieves sawed through the bronze horse's legs
The theft was discovered after the statue was removed from its concrete mounting.
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statue → saw → mounting
Reports said the thieves sawed through the bronze legs to take the horse, leaving one hoof behind on the base.
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thieves → say → base
The remaining hoof and severed section of the sculpture provided a visible indication of how the monument had been removed.
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monument → remain → indication
Taking a nearly 7-foot bronze statue would have required considerable effort and some means of transporting the heavy sculpture away from the site.
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Taking → take → site
Despite the unusual nature of the theft, investigators have not publicly established a motive.
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investigators → establish → 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.
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thieves → intend → monument
Police are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the disappearance.
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Police → continue → disappearance
Only one hoof was left behind
The theft has drawn attention because of the unusual scene left at the former location.
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theft → leave → location
Instead of finding the complete statue, people were left with the concrete base and a single bronze hoof.
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people → find → base
Images of the site show the severed section where the horse had previously stood, highlighting the scale of the theft.
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horse → show → theft
Community members have expressed disappointment over the loss because the statue was a visible reminder of North Sacramento’s connection to thoroughbred racing.
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statue → express → racing
The monument also carried historical significance because of Ben Ali’s connection to Rancho Del Paso and his Kentucky Derby victory.
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monument → carry → Paso
Replacing the sculpture would be expensive, with reports putting its value at around $80,000.
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reports → replace → 80,000
The city does not have immediate funds set aside to replace it.
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city → have → 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.
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who → search → authorities
Investigators are working to determine who removed the statue and where it may have been taken.
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it → work → statue
The Del Paso Boulevard Business Association has also drawn attention to the disappearance as community members hope the sculpture can be recovered.
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sculpture → draw → disappearance
The case remains open and there is no confirmed motive for the theft.
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case → remain → theft
Until the statue is found, the single bronze hoof is the only remaining piece visible at its former location.
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hoof → find → 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.
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began → begin → Sacramento
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