$51K Win For Silver Spring Father Playing MD Lottery's Racetrax Game

SILVER SPRING, MD — A Silver Spring man's decision to try a different Maryland Lottery game turned out to be a good one. On Sept. 4, he took home a $51,422 prize in Racetrax, the lottery's computer-animated horse racing simulation game, according to a release.

A married father of three and retail sales manager told his friend that he wasn't having much luck playing Mega Millions. His friend suggested that he try out Racetrax at Hillandale Beer & Wine in Silver Spring.

“I talked to my friend and some of the other people, and they told me about playing the high numbers,” the winner said. In Racetrax, when horses with higher numbers finish among the top four, the payout is larger.

After winning about $200, the Silver Spring man decided to replay a 50-cent Superfecta Box ticket for one race, picking horses 1, 10, 11, and 12 to finish in the top four in any order. Once he learned that the top four finishers in the race were 11, 12, 1 and 10, the man knew he'd won.

“I said ‘Oh!’ and then I stopped myself,” he said, smiling. “I didn’t want to say too much right there. I checked the ticket in the store and then I left and I checked it again. And again. I probably checked it about 20 more times.”

The Montgomery County resident claimed his ticket on Sept 13 at Maryland Lottery headquarters. He told lottery officials he planned to use his winnings on various sports and other activities for his child. His wife also told him there were some renovations that needed to be done to their home.

For selling a winning Racetrax ticket worth $10,000 or more, Hillandale Beer & Wine will receive a $514.22 bonus, which is equal to 1 percent of the prize.

One lucky lottery player also won $10,000 in the $100,000 Crossword scratch game. The winning ticket was purchased last week at the Long Branch Beer & Wine located at 649 University Blvd. East in Silver Spring.