Kentucky

Store clerk sells Kentucky man a winning lottery ticket after he jokingly asks her to

A Lexington man can now pay off his car after winning a $100,000 on a Kentucky Lottery scratch-off ticket.

Ricardo Vasquez recently bought a $5 Pink Diamond ticket at the Speedway store on Winchester Road, according to a Tuesday release from the lottery.

When Vasquez scratched off his ticket in his car, he saw it had the candle symbol, which signified he’d won a hefty grand prize.

“I first thought it was $100, but then there were more zeroes,” Vasquez told Kentucky Lottery officials, according to the release. “Funny thing is, when I walked up to the counter, I said to the clerk, ‘Give me the winning ticket.’”

A Lexington, Ky., man recently won $100,000 pre-tax on this Pink Diamond Kentucky Lottery scratch-off ticket.
A Lexington, Ky., man recently won $100,000 pre-tax on this Pink Diamond Kentucky Lottery scratch-off ticket. Kentucky Lottery

The odds of winning any prize on Pink Diamond are 1 in 3.63, according to the Kentucky Lottery’s website. Prizes range from $5 to the top $100,000.

Vasquez collected a win of $71,500 after taxes. The Speedway will receive $1,000 for selling the winning ticket.

“I was so excited. I went back in the store, and I told her [the store clerk], ‘I won, I won,’” Vasquez said.

After he pays off his car, Vasquez plans on putting the rest of his winnings into the bank.

If you or someone you know has a problem gambling, help is available at 1-800-522-4700.

Do you have a question about the lottery in Kentucky for our service journalism team? We’d like to hear from you. Fill out our Know Your Kentucky form or email ask@herald-leader.com.

Lindsay Smith
The Wichita Eagle
Lindsay Smith is a suburban news reporter for the Wichita Eagle, covering the communities of Andover, Bel Aire, Derby, Haysville and Kechi. She has been on The Eagle staff since 2022 and was the service journalism reporter for three years. She has a degree in communications with an emphasis in journalism from Wichita State, where she was editor-in-chief of the student newspaper, The Sunflower, for two years. You can reach her via email at lsmith@wichitaeagle.com.
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