The luckiest bettor I know of may also be the unluckiest.
There apparently was a patron (I will be no more specific than that) who used one of our terminals to make a 'quick pick' on the superfecta (the quick pick feature is basically a random number generator). The $1 ticket he received was indeed a winning superfecta bet (which paid about $865,000 for the $1 bet). Like so many of our patrons, he proceeded to get stinking drunk on Derby day, and LOST the ticket. His claim was indeed verified after researching the story. A $1 winning ticket was purchased around the time and at the machine he claimed.
State rules dictate that he cannot be paid without presenting the ticket, and there is no other traceable info that would indicate any ownership of this ticket.
There is still a possibility his claim will be honored, but he also may have to hire a lawyer and the courts may ultimately decide if he gets paid, or if the state gets the money (uncashed tickets go to the state after a period of time elapses).
I suddenly don't feel so bad about losing $175.
You've probably heard by now that the lost ticket was found behind the betting machine and returned to the owner by an honest employee. The winner promised to compensate her bigtime.