An Essex man who stopped to play a Winter Multiplier scratch-off between Racetrax games ended up winning the $10 game’s first $100,000 top prize.
The longtime player, who especially enjoys Keno and Racetrax, as well as scratch-offs, frequently plays at the Royal Farms convenience store at 11905 Markey Way in White Marsh. He has enjoyed a few wins over the years, including a Racetrax prize of roughly $12,000, but nothing approaching his Winter Multiplier score.
“You never know what you are gonna hit,” he said Oct. 28 when he claimed his prize at Lottery headquarters in Baltimore.
On the day of his win, the player was focused on Racetrax when he decided to scratch a Winter Multiplier ticket between races. He worked his way through the ticket, carefully revealing each number. The last number in the lower right corner brought the biggest surprise: that $100,000 prize.
“I was shocked I hit that,” he said.
Before getting too excited, he walked over to the Lottery kiosk to scan his ticket. The message read “See Lottery,” confirming that he was a big winner.
He folded the ticket, slipped it into his pocket and took it home.
The widower, a father and grandfather, has decided to keep the news to himself.
He has worked as a mechanic for more than 50 years and plans to use his winnings to pay bills and put a down payment on a truck.
The Royal Farms where he bought the ticket receives a bonus of $1,000.
The win marks the first $100,000 top prize claimed on the Winter Multiplier scratch-off since the game’s release on Oct. 16. Players have a chance to win, with all six of the game’s $10,000 second-tier prizes remaining available, as well as eight more of the $100,000 top prizes.
