Michael wins £34k on Tote
One lucky punter will be celebrating his birthday in real style after scooping a £34,000 Tote jackpot at Wolverhampton's Monmore Green greyhound track.
Michael Blandford, of Beechdale, Walsall, shelled out £384 in 50p tickets to win the massive cash prize in Wolverhampton at the weekend.
Mr Blandford, who is a regular at the track, was one of four people to have a bet riding on the last of six races, but he was the only one to successfully pick Borna Lazer as the winner.
The 38-year-old, who is known on the circuit as "Walsall Mick," is set to celebrate his birthday next week and the money won on Saturday will certainly make it one to enjoy.
He said: "I have been going to the greyhound track for last 20 years and although I have had a few wins, this is definitely the biggest. After having the winner on the first five races of the bet I was a bit nervous and tempted to go into the car park as I didn't know if I could watch.
"But I was delighted to win as I have had some bad luck recently. I know most of the dogs but still didn't expect to scoop the jackpot," he said.
"All my friends know and it looks like the drinks are on me," he said jokingly.
"I will definitely enjoy my birthday now and probably go away on holiday."
More than 20,000 tickets were sold for the jackpot on Saturday night and the prize pool shot up from £21,000 to the £34,334.52 prize in just two days.
The jackpot was last claimed in May. Sales of the 50p-a-go bet have increased dramatically as gamblers try their luck and a gambler must pick six winners from six races to win.
For those who do not know anything about greyhounds, unlike Mr Blandford, a computer can do it automatically.
Penny Tilston, who is the marketing spokeswoman for Monmore Green, said: "Everybody is very interested in trying to win the jackpot so they are all having a flutter."
She added: "It is one of the most popular bets here but the bigger the jackpot is the more people come along and try to win it.
"It is always nailbiting stuff and this large amount of money makes for extra excitement and makes it a bit more special," she added.
For further information about dog racing or betting telephone 01902 452 648 or visit www.monmoredogs.co.uk
