Barney Curley was never destined for an ordinary life. Born in Irvinestown, County Fermanagh, in 1939, he survived a childhood battle with tuberculosis and nearly became a Jesuit priest before the lure of the racetrack proved too strong.
He tried his hand at running a bookmaker’s shop, managed a showband, and even dabbled in pub ownership, but it was in the world of horse racing that Curley found his calling.
Curley’s reputation as a gambler and trainer grew through the 1970s and 80s, but it was a single, audacious act in the summer of 1975 that would make him a legend, not just in Ireland, but across the racing world.
The Yellow Sam Coup: A Masterstroke in Betting History
On June 26th, 1975, at the modest Bellewstown racecourse in County Meath, Curley orchestrated what remains the most famous betting coup in horse racing history. The plan was as bold as it was brilliant.
Curley had identified a horse named Yellow Sam, a modest performer who was, crucially, underhandicapped for a low-profile hurdle race.
The real genius, however, lay in exploiting the era’s lack of technology. At Bellewstown, there was only one public telephone line connecting the course to the outside world—a vital detail in an age before mobile phones and internet betting.
Curley arranged for dozens of friends and paid helpers to fan out across Ireland, each ready to place modest bets at bookmakers’ shops. Nobody knew which horse or which race until the very last moment.
Meanwhile, at Bellewstown, Curley’s accomplice Benny O’Hanlon entered the only phone box and pretended to make an urgent call to a sick relative, tying up the line for half an hour.
This simple act meant that off-course bookmakers had no way to communicate with their on-course colleagues, and the odds on Yellow Sam remained unchanged.
Just minutes before the race, the word went out. Across Ireland, Curley’s network sprang into action, placing bets that would total over £15,000—his entire savings.
Yellow Sam powering clear
Yellow Sam, sent off at 20/1, won by two and a half lengths. The coup netted Curley more than IR£300,000 (over €1.7 million today), all perfectly legal and paid out in single notes, filling more than a hundred bags.
Aftermath: A Folk Hero is Born
The Yellow Sam coup sent shockwaves through the betting industry. Bookmakers, stung by their losses, quickly changed the rules to prevent such a plot from ever succeeding again.
But for punters and racing romantics, Curley became a hero—a man who had outwitted the system with ingenuity, nerve, and a touch of mischief.
The story cemented Curley’s status as the bookmakers’ public enemy number one, but it also launched his career as a trainer and gambler. He continued to mastermind successful gambles, but Yellow Sam remained his masterpiece.
A Life Beyond the Track
Barney Curley’s story didn’t end with betting coups. In the 1990s, after the tragic loss of his son Charlie, Curley’s focus shifted to philanthropy. Deeply affected by a visit to Zambia, he founded Direct Aid for Africa (DAFA), a charity dedicated to supporting the poor and sick.
Curley poured his winnings and energy into building schools, clinics, and hope for thousands—a legacy as enduring as any racing victory.
He also played a pivotal role in the careers of young jockeys, mentoring stars like Frankie Dettori and Tom Queally, and was revered for his generosity and wisdom within the racing community.
The Legend Lives On
Barney Curley’s death in 2021, at the age of 81, was met with tributes from across the world of racing and beyond. He was remembered not just for his legendary betting coups but for his kindness, wit, and the way he used his good fortune to help others.
The Yellow Sam betting coup remains a touchstone in racing folklore—a story of daring, guile, and the belief that, with courage and cleverness, even the mightiest can be toppled. Bellewstown racecourse still celebrates the coup, and Curley’s name endures as a symbol of what’s possible when you dare to dream.
RIP Barney Curley: Racing’s Mastermind and a True Friend to Many
Barney Curley’s life was a tapestry of risk, reward, and remarkable generosity. His legacy will live on in the stories told at racetracks, in the lives changed by his charity, and in the hearts of all who love the sounds of the hooves running on turf.
