(CNN) -- With owners ranging from onetime Presidents of the United States through Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Makhtoum to the Queen of England herself, horse racing is known as the 'Sport of Kings' for good reason. If you're going to be a player, you're likely to need near-limitless funds. Occasionally though, a relative pauper does manage to gatecrash the party every once in a while. Take Dave Dillon, who works as a hotel controller in Chicago -- and who's absolutely convinced of one thing. "I make no bones about the being the luckiest guy alive," he volunteered within seconds of speaking to CNN.
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How investor's $5,000 stake in a horse will return well over a million dollars
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Hotel controller Dave Dillon invested in Animal Kingdom in 2009
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Horse has since won Kentucky Derby and Dubai World Cup, the sport's richest race
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Animal Kingdom has now entered lucrative world of breeding
Three months later, the champion horse won the @placeholder -- with the success swiftly prompting Sheikh Mohammed, whose entry had been beaten by Animal Kingdom, to come on board.
Three months later, the champion horse won the Dubai World Cup -- with the success swiftly prompting Sheikh Mohammed, whose entry had been beaten by @placeholder, to come on board.
All in the hope of sharing the parade rings and winners' enclosures with some of the world's most powerful people -- a holy grail @placeholder is still wholly surprised to be part of.