Hidden ticket and long odds lead to lottery windfall

Fort Washington woman wins $31,233 on Racetrax trifecta box bet after returning from break

FORT WASHINGTON, MD — A Prince George’s County woman’s decision to return to Racetrax after a short break paid off with a $31,233 win on a $1 trifecta box bet that hit during a Jan. 12 race — and she kept the winning ticket hidden in her shoe for safekeeping until claiming the prize.

The player, who selected the alias “Happy New Year Nurse” for publicity, said she stopped at her favorite store, Best 1 Food Market on Southern Avenue in Capitol Heights, after work to place several Racetrax bets. For her winning ticket, she boxed long-shot horses 10, 11, and 12 in a 20-race trifecta box bet.

She said she didn’t immediately realize she had won due to the number of tickets she had out in front of her. When she finally located the right one and had it scanned by a cashier, the $31,233 prize was confirmed.

She said she kept the ticket in a folded envelope hidden in her shoe until she could safely claim her winnings on Jan. 20. With an upcoming medical procedure expected to keep her out of work, she said sh...