A Waterford stable lad says he’s been ‘consumed’ by a saga which has seen him waiting over a year and counting for a potentially life changing sum of money.
Dylan Phelan (25) from Dungarvan thought he had hit the jackpot on April 19th 2024 when attending the races in Limerick.
Phelan walked into a Ladbrokes shop in Limerick City shortly after 2pm that day and placed a €60 bet. Fast forward three hours and that €60 had suddenly become €319,440 – or had it?
The 25-year-old, who works for Cappagh trainer Declan Queally, placed a €30 each way double on two of Queally’s horses, who were running at Limerick and Ballinrobe respectively.
Rocky’s Diamond (80/1) won a maiden hurdle at Limerick at 4.45, and 22 minutes later, Diamond Nora (125/1) followed up to score in a mares’ maiden at Ballinrobe. The horses went off at prices of 22/1 and 16/1 respectively.
Phelan says the initial feeling was simply indescribable.
“The whole thing was just surreal”, he told WLR. “Rocky’s Diamond won and then a couple of minutes later I saw Diamond Nora had come in, and I was just on cloud nine. I kind of had to pinch myself really. I couldn’t believe the whole thing was after happening but it was after happening, and it was like a dream had come true.”
In Dylan’s own words, “it wasn’t long after that until the whole excitement was gone out of everything.”
Fast forward to now, and he’s yet to receive a single cent of what he is owed.
The results of both races underwent subsequent investigations by the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (IHRB) given the race day stewards at both tracks had inquired as to how the apparent improvement in form from both horses in question had come about. The matter was then passed on to an IHRB referrals committee.
In a statement this week, the IHRB confirmed that “winner all right was given on the day following both races” – a move resulting in other bookmakers paying out on both Rocky’s Diamond and Diamond Nora – however.
The statement also confirmed that the investigation by the referrals committee is “nearing its conclusion and a decision will be taken shortly as to what further action, if any, will be taken” – whilst also moving to confirm that Phelan is not the subject of the said investigation.
High Court proceedings have now been launched and a hearing date is awaited as Ladbrokes have stated that their decision to withhold Phelan’s pending payment is “entirely consistent with their terms”, pointing to the ongoing investigations by the IHRB.
A statement from Ladbrokes reads: “The IHRB is conducting an ongoing investigation into these races and we are awaiting the outcome before settling bets related to this investigation. When a sporting governing body is investigating the integrity of a sports event on which we have taken notable bets, we will await the outcome of those proceedings before settling bets relating to the matter under investigation. We take integrity matters in sport extremely seriously and our approach is entirely consistent with our terms and conditions and how we would approach any sports event under investigation.”
Phelan says his initial elation has now turned to frustration, and having to make his case public has added insult to injury.
“I’ve had no correspondence from Ladbrokes personally, it’s only the same as everyone else has seen online”, said the 25-year-old. “Everything is hanging on this IHRB investigation – which at the end of the day has nothing to do with me. I just went in and took a chance, I placed a bet, I was fortunate enough to win and I still haven’t been paid.”
“There’s been more than a couple of sleepless nights in the last year”, he conceded. “It’s been going on with year now and that’s far too long. It’s been an emotional rollercoaster. So many ups and downs and mentally, it’s been tough to deal with the whole thing. The whole world knows my business now and I never wanted that to happen. I just wanted my bet to settle after the time that it happened. It’s a disgrace.”
Whatever happens in the weeks and months ahead, Dylan is adamant that he just wants to get on with his life now – regardless of what sum of money ends up in his bank account.
“The whole thing is just consuming me. Sleepless nights worrying about the whole thing – and it’s unfortunate that we had to go down the media route and that it couldn’t be settled, but I had no choice in the matter. It’s been getting to me.
Initial dreams of how the money could make a positive impact upon his life and that of those around him have now turned to concerns and fears that maybe nothing will come of what was supposed to be one of the most memorable moments of Dylan’s life.
“When you think you have money, you spend more money and I’ve bitten off a little bit more than I can chew since. I was banking on having my big winning bet to fall back on. It’s life changing, the world is your oyster – I could buy a house or build one or invest or put it away, do whatever I want. I was just lucky to be such a young lad in such a fortunate position, striking a one in a million bet. Nine times out of ten, you do a bet and it doesn’t win. I’m sick of saying it, but there’s no refunds on losing bets. I took a chance and I was fortunate that it seemingly worked out but now I’m unfortunately in this position.”
Responding to the Ladbrokes statement, Dylan said: “That’s all well and good, but it has nothing to do with me. I think it’s very bad that other bookmaking firms have paid out and honoured other bets and they’re not crying about an IHRB investigation or trying to withhold any winnings on the basis of it. I just think it’s wrong really. The whole thing is mind-blowing. My phone is on fire the last few days, and it’s just very stressful trying to keep on top of this whole thing.”
What happens in the weeks ahead remains to be seen, but Phelan won’t give up the fight to claim what he feels is rightfully his. The story has attracted millions of views online in recent days, as the saga rumbles on without any signs of an impending conclusion.
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