“It was like dreaming...I wasn’t sure if it was true or not.”

Every horseplayer dreams of hitting The Big One. Horseplayers study daily looking for value and hoping to put together the perfect ticket in search of that big payday.

The possibility of striking it big can seem expensive and out of reach, but a longtime Toronto horseplayer recently proved sometimes all it takes is less than $5 and a lot of luck.

A Toronto horseplayer, who asked to remain anonymous, crafted together the only winning ticket on last Friday’s Jackpot Hi-5 at Woodbine Racetrack to take home the entire $242,409.44 pool. His ticket cost just $4.80.

The Jackpot Hi-5 pool had been growing since October 26, as multiple winning tickets on each card caused the pool to carryover. The only way for a horseplayer to take home the entire pool is to have the only ticket with the correct combination.

The chances of having the only winning ticket have proved to be relatively low when the favourite finishes in the top five, but Friday evening the public’s choice finished out of the money and longshots took over.

“I knew if I wanted to get the Hi-5, I would never get it by studying the program,” said the Toronto horseplayer. “I know if all the favourites come in, I can’t get the Jackpot.”

To try and win the Jackpot, the horseplayer, who relayed he is around the age of 65, went to his lucky combination costing just $4.80.

“I just put 9 on top and then 1,5 for second, 1,5 for third, 3,8 for fourth and all (for fifth).”

The $4.80 combination came through, as Shez A Gold Mine (PP9) won the race at 17-1 followed by Kassaras Song (PP1) at 25-1, Weekly Special (PP5) at 50-1, Black Widow Baby (PP8) at 2-1 and Boozer Bruiser (PP6) at 6-1.

The veteran horseplayer watched the race live at a Toronto Champions Off-Track Betting location and said he knew immediately he had won the Jackpot.

The Jackpot winner continuously plays the same numbers for his $4.80 Jackpot Hi-5 ticket at various tracks, but has kept his focus on Woodbine after missing out on a prior Jackpot.

“One day I bet another track with these same numbers. At exactly the same time that Woodbine was on the last race with the Hi-5,” explained the Toronto horseplayer. “(Woodbine) comes out with the same numbers as I bet, but I didn’t bet the Woodbine Hi-5. At that time Woodbine had about a $70,000 Hi-5 Jackpot, so if I had bet the same numbers I would have got the Jackpot for $70,000.”

As fate would have it, his numbers came through again to give him a winning ticket horseplayers play an entire lifetime for.

The longtime horseplayer has been a member of HPIbet since Day One. Although he regularly plays Jackpot wagers, hitting one never seemed like a possibility until Friday.

“I never dreamed it would come true, except when it came true,” he laughed, noting his biggest winning ticket before Friday was $5,000. “I’m going to keep on playing for fun, same as previously.”

The Jackpot winner hasn’t decided what he will do with his winnings, but mentioned he will be sharing it with his family.

The Jackpot Hi-5 has now started from scratch, but you can bet the Jackpot winner will be playing his numbers hoping lightning strikes again.

(with files from WEG)