‘Nothing’s changed’ for £1m winning punter

Mar 9 2008 by Sarah Robertson, Sunday Sun

THE punter who landed £1m with a 50p bet says he hasn’t spent a penny of his jackpot win yet.

Farming salesman Freddie Craggs bashed the bookies with his amazing 2,000,000-1 flutter — an eight horse accumulator — with William Hill last month.

However, Freddie, 60, of Thirsk, North Yorkshire, said he is still doing his normal job, and even having the odd bet, although he’s switched to Ladbrokes.

He explained: “It would be cruel to take two wins from William Hill.”

Speaking about life since his huge win, Freddie said: “Nothing has changed. I’ve been working same as usual, nine till five, and just getting on with things. It’s something to live on but it is not enough to change your lifestyle, more a good pension.

“I’ll just have to use it wisely. It is not such a big amount like a £20m lottery win. I’ve not even been to a car showroom yet.

“I suppose one day I will get something, but I am not rushing off to a showroom any time soon.

“You hear about these people who win £10m then go bust, so I am going to invest it wisely and hope there’s a bit left in one or two years.”

His life changed forever on February 23 when he went into his local bookmakers in Thirsk to place his usual 50p accumulator bet.

Tellingly, the first of his eight chosen racehorses was called Isn’t That Lucky, and the final winner was A Dream Come True.

He only found out about his triumph the next morning when he walked into William Hill’s branch in nearby Bedale to place another bet, and staff who suspected he was the jackpot winner asked for his old betting slip.

Freddie lives alone at his late mother’s house in Thirsk, but the divorcee warned any women that there wasn’t enough money to share.

He laughed: “A million pounds will not last very long if you have someone else to keep would it?”

“There’s more chance of me having £2m than another wife!”

The previous biggest payout to a betting shop punter for horse racing was in 1996 when builder Darren Yates won £550,823.54 for an outlay of £69.76 on Frankie Dettori’s Magnificent Seven.