"It was one of those fluky days,'' the punter said. "I am a regular patron - it's about the only vice I have - and it was the last bet of the day.
"As the day progressed and more winners come my way, I couldn't believe it. When the last one sneaked in by a whisker, I didn't realise the amount was as much as it was.''
The man plans to travel to the US with his wife, who has inoperable breast cancer, and son for a holiday and, with a "heap'' of grandchildren, doesn't think the money will go very far. He's already tipped workers at his local TAB.
"I know I should give some to Christchurch [for the earthquake relief fund] but I have done that one way or another with various things,'' he said.
The man was once part of a syndicate who owned a number of horses including Wellington Guineas winner Red Baron and he was a member of a couple of racing clubs around the country but his interest these days is mostly at the tote.
He has been a punter for most of his life and lays bets on most races from Wednesday to Sunday. He came close to pocketing a pick six when he selected his own horses for an Ellerslie race meet but he placed third in the final race. He's claimed a handful of windfalls around $10,000 in his time but nothing compared to his recent windfall.
Nothing much will change, however, and he's bound to be down at the TAB again today in the hope of another fluky day.
