The famed Kentucky Derby is more than just the two minutes of excitement that equestrian fans anticipate every year. Churchill Downs hosts a number of such activities in the days leading up to and after the Derby. Although gambling on a horse that could compete in the Derby is not technically an event, many people engage in it nonetheless. While the outcome of a wager may depend solely on chance, the bettor who employs a sound plan and benefits from a little good fortune stands to gain a tidy sum. Such intriguing wagers have occurred in the past in the days leading up to the Derby.

A bettor from Austin, Texas, backed the pre-race favorite in the 2018 Kentucky Derby. The fan did place an $18 wager, but she clearly wasn’t a serious gambler. The $18 she wagered on Justify was well worth it, as he went on to win the Derby and make his backer a millionaire.

The Kentucky Derby that made her a millionaire

The Austin lady, who wished to remain nameless, placed a Pick 5 bet at the Retama Park racetrack in Selma, Texas. She waited with bated breath to see how her chosen horses fared on the muddy track at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, more than a thousand miles away. The lucky fan got a home run on May 5, 2018. She placed her wager on the pre-race favorite, Justify, who went on to win the Kentucky Derby despite the wet track. Nobody at Retama Park expected the winner to win such a large sum with such a small wager. Gambling on the horse turned out extremely fruitful for the woman.

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As reported by ABC News, Rachel Bagnetto, spokeswoman for Retama Park, said, “It’s extremely rare. To bet that little amount of money and win $1.2 million is unheard of. In fact, it’s the first time it’s happened at Retama.” It’s just nuts to wager such a modest sum on a Grade 1 prize like the Kentucky Derby. However, the supporter did demonstrate that anyone could win such staggering sums with just a little bit of luck. This wasn’t the only race in which she placed a wager, however. Since she had wagered on other horses that had also raced that day and won. There was the Old Forester Turf Classic (Gr. 1), the Pat Day Mile (Gr. 2), the American Turf Stakes (Gr. 2), and the Churchill Downs Stakes (Gr. 1). The lady’s horse won every one of the American thoroughbred races, giving her a perfect record for the day.

Justify being the wingless Pegasus of 2018

The 8-year-old horse Justify was an extremely dominant 3-year-old colt in 2018. Bob Baffert, whose career earnings amount to $342,611,922, was his trainer. After winning his maiden race, the Maiden Special Weight at Santa Anita, the horse quickly earned a reputation as a track terror.

Justify was the clear choice for the pre-Derby favorite in 2018 when he won the Santa Anita Derby (Gr. 1). Due to the horse’s early dominance and victory in the Grade 1 stake before the supposed Derby, he was also picked as the crowd favorite. The 2018 Kentucky Derby winner, Justify, didn’t disappoint his legion of devoted followers. Justify completed the Triple Crown by also taking both the Preakness Stakes (Gr. 1) and the Belmont S. Presented by NYRA Bets (Gr. 1).

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