A NZ punter was left in disbelief after an extraordinary wager at a greyhound race meeting turned a modest $30 bet into a staggering $776,315.80 payday.
The lucky punter placed the bet in cash at The Prospect Of Howick before heading home to watch in amazement as all seven chosen dogs triumphed at the Whanganui meeting. The combined odds of 25,877.19 meant the final payout was 30 times that figure, delivering an incredible windfall.
The most nerve-wracking moment came in Race 8, where Chefâs Mate, the longest-priced runner in the winning sequence, narrowly clinched victory at $13. Had it lost in the photo finish, the entire bet would have been void.
When the punter returned to collect his winnings, the sheer magnitude of the win left him visibly shaking.
Barry OâShaughnessy, owner of The Prospect Of Howick, recalled the moment the bet was placed, noting that the customer was a familiar face at the establishment.
âWhen the customer handed over the bet slip before the straight track meeting at Whanganui, the staff member processing the bet told them âif that comes in, thatâd be outstandingâ,â OâShaughnessy said.
By the time the ticket was cashed, around 20 people in the bar had caught wind of the life-changing victory, and excitement spread rapidly.
Though still in shock from the massive windfall, the punter made a generous pledge. âHe said he would come back and put a round on,â OâShaughnessy added.
Multi bets like this one are popular among punters because they offer enormous payouts from relatively small stakes. However, winning requires perfection across all selected racesâsomething that rarely happens.
For this bettor, yesterday was the day every punter dreams ofâthe one where everything falls into place.
Winning Selections
The remarkable bet consisted of seven final-field win selections across different races.
| Race | Dog Number | Name | Payout |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | #8 | Runaway Blue | $2.40 |
| 4 | #3 | Bow Anna | $9.00 |
| 5 | #8 | Loveable Rogue | $2.30 |
| 6 | #7 | Flying Moa | $5.50 |
| 7 | #4 | Kookaburra Rob | $2.35 |
| 8 | #4 | Chefâs Mate | $13.00 |
| 9 | #6 | Indecisive | $3.10 |
With odds of 25,877.19, the $30 stake resulted in a breathtaking $776,315.80 payoutâa moment this punter will never forget.