There is a brand new millionaire in the midst of the North American harness racing industry. The millionaire status wasn’t achieved after a string of stakes scores, but after a lucky combination of numbers in the recent Powerball craze paid out a seven-figure sum. Although, the life-changing piece of luck almost slipped away, literally.
If you weren’t all too familiar with the name of trainer/driver Bart Stimer, you probably are now.
As an article by Michigan Live states, Stimer won $1 million in Wednesday’s enormous Powerball draw south of the border.
Although, as Bart has explained in the piece, his winning ticket almost ‘bolted the barn,’ so to speak.
The resident of Concord has said that he and his wife, Kiersten, were on their way to Northfield Park to watch one of their horses race when the score of a lifetime literally almost flew out the window.
"I rolled down my window to get a ticket for the Ohio Turnpike, and as I pulled away and started to get up to speed, the Powerball ticket that was laying on my dash almost flew out the window," Stimer has said. "I grabbed it just before it got to the window, and stuck it in a cubby in my truck."
After having secured the ticket, Stimer went on to watch his horse, GunninForAFight, get up for a half-length win at odds of 8-1.
The upset win was not the only thing that the Stimers would be celebrating Wednesday night. Once back home after the races, the 45-year-old horseman realized that he may be a winner, and flew back out to his truck with a hope and a prayer.
“I got to my truck as fast as I could to check my ticket," Stimer has said. "I had memorized two of the winning numbers, the 04 and 08, so when I saw I had those, I thought I might have a winner.”
Stimer has stated that he will take care of some debt with the winnings and will put money away for his kids’ education, but that the big win will not change the family’s lifestyle. “We'll just be a little more comfortable," he has said.
(With files from Michigan Live)