Bet on long-odds horses returns prize to help fund daughter’s tuition
A Maryland Lottery enthusiast who enjoys playing a range of games said Racetrax is currently leading the list because she won $30,946 on July 12.
Racetrax had been a side game for the Suitland player, who says she got interested in it because of an uncle.
“He always told me to stick with certain numbers,” said the 52-year-old player. Those numbers are 10, 11 and 12. The numbers indicate each individual horse’s chance of winning. The No. 1 horse has the best chance of winning, but the weakest payout, while the No. 12 horse has the longest odds to win, but the biggest payoff. By playing the horses in a Trifecta Box configuration as she did, the odds of winning aren’t as good. However, when a win does come, it’s big!
The lucky mom placed her bet for 10 races on July 12 at Tops Liquors in Oxon Hill. Her big win came in the eighth race, when the horses crossed the finish line in 11, 10 and 12 order.
The Prince George’s County player has a daughter in college in New York City and said the winnings will help ease the tuition burden.
In addition to playing Racetrax, the winner also enjoys Pick 3, Pick 4 and Pick 5, adding that she is happy about the Lottery’s February addition of the Pick 5 game. “A lot of the numbers in my life are five digits,” she said, noting that she has sets of birthdays and other momentous family dates that figure into her ticket purchases. Although she enjoys those games, she added, “scratch-offs are my favorite.”
Her lucky Lottery retailer also benefits from her ticket purchase. Tops Liquors at 4422 Wheeler Road in Oxon Hill receives a bonus of $309.46 from the Lottery for selling a winning Racetrax ticket worth $10,000 or more. The bonus is equal to 1% of the prize.