 The “Ice Princess” from Hillcrest Heights started 2016 with a $62,448 win on a Racetrax Superfecta bet. |
Hillcrest Heights resident’s Superfecta bet wins $62,448
A loyal Racetrax player from Hillcrest Heights rode into 2016 with success because she followed her plan of playing both sets of her special numbers regularly. Little did she know that her big win would happen on just her second attempt of the year.
On Jan. 16, when she visited Meyers Liquors in Suitland, she bought a 10-draw Racetrax ticket, playing an 11-7-5-6 Superfecta bet. On the seventh race out of the 10 she played, the computer-animated horseracing game delivered that exact order of finish giving her a $62,448 win.
“I was there in the store watching the races, and the lady working there knew I’d played 11-7,” said the lucky winner. “She said, ‘Don’t you have 11-7?’ I looked at the results and I thought it might be $30,000 or $40,000 … and then I started whispering to myself, ‘Is that $62,000? Is that $62,000?’ And I kept repeating it. I was having heart palpitations. I said, ‘I need to go home!’ ”
The longtime federal government employee called a friend to share the good news. In spite of her excitement, she drove slowly.
“I was taking my time,” she said. “I didn’t want to have an accident with that money.”
The 59-year-old hid the winning ticket in her Bible during the Martin Luther King Day weekend and arrived at Maryland Lottery headquarters on Jan. 19 to claim her prize. This isn’t her first trip to the Winner’s Lounge. About two years ago, she won $17,000 playing Pick 4.
“I play my numbers and stick with them,” she said. “I don’t think you hit the numbers, I think the numbers hit you.”
The lucky lady, who goes by the nickname “Ice Princess,” said the prize money will help her pay bills and possibly fund an out-of-state trip to see her family. The windfall could also help her make the decision to retire.
Her lucky Lottery retailer, Meyers Liquors, is located at 3601 Old Silver Hill Road in Suitland. The retailer also is a winner. For selling the ticket, the store will receive a bonus of $624.48 – equal to 1 percent of the prize value.