A lucky horseracing gambling fan just got the win of a lifetime, and the track where the races took place got the best marketing it could have ever hoped for, and it didn’t cost the venue anything. Gulfstream Park in Florida held a series of races this weekend in front a track that would normally be spilling over with spectators. However, COVID-19 forced the races to be run without the presence of any fans. With remote gambling options in place, and perhaps a crystal ball in front of him, a gambler placed a bet of just $0.50 on a Pick 5 with some outrageous longshots. It worked, though, and he (or she) collected over $500,000. Not bad for probably about 15 minutes of work while sitting at home in pajamas and slippers.
Three of the five picks were ridiculously long. The first three had odds of 70/1, 36/1 and 26/1, and the gambler hit on all three. Freddy Soto took the first race, one designed for thoroughbreds three years old or older who have never won two races, Union Lane took the second race and He’s a Babe crossed the finish line first in the third race. These were three of the 13 total held at the racetrack this past Saturday.
Winning those three was worth $14,483.65, according to Casino.org, and nine Pick 5 tickets included these three races. However, the big winner of the day also chose correctly on two other races, allowing the winning ticket to score properly on all five picks. That pushed the total winnings to $524,966.60 at odds of 1,050,000/1.
This was the fifth-highest Pick 5 ever paid out in North American race history. Quoting Ed DeRosa of brisnet.com, Casino.org writes, “The record Pick 5 payoff was for $889,726.15 when someone hit the jackpot on August 9, 2013, at Louisiana Downs. The record non-jackpot Pick 5 payoff was $620,827.87 on 2018 @kentuckyderby day. Four people hit that.” However, what isn’t explained is whether or not those winnings came off a $0.50 bet, the minimum amount allowed at horseracing tracks in North America.
While the U.S. is currently on an almost complete lockdown because of COVID-19, some industries have managed to remain open. It’s up to the individual states to determine what can and cannot function during the pandemic, and a few states, including Arkansas, California and Florida, have determined that horseracing is an essential business. As such, races continue to be held, but not in front of fans.
The argument for keeping the races going centers on the animals’ health. Steve Bittenbender of Casino.org explains, “Proponents of racing say the sport is necessary to keep agricultural operations going, as the purse money from races fund that work. In addition, they also cite that race horses are finely trained athletes who need proper supervision and exercise on an ongoing basis for their health and safety.”
Regardless of the reason why, a certain gambler is ecstatic. However, the sportsbook where the bet was made can’t be. It would have taken over $1.1 million in wagers just to be able to pay off the bet.
