Super scooper meets King for a day
The 39-year-old Betfred customer became one of Britain’s biggest ever individual betting shop winners when Chatez claimed the final leg of six at Haydock on Saturday, after the pool had rolled over for 12 weeks to leave over £10million up for grabs – for just a £2 stake.
Brazier, from Mansfield, is now in line to play for a further £5,481,763 in the bonus race this weekend.
Along with his partner, shop assistant Tracy, 42, he plans to leave their two-up-two-down terraced home for a five-bedroomed detached property.
The win is around £1m more than the couple’s lifetime earnings so far and they intend to splash out on a Disney holiday to Florida with daughters Jessica, 14 and Casey, eight.
Brazier said: “I started bin cleaning in 1996 and I will carry on cleaning wheelie bins as I do it part-time four days a week and enjoy the job.
“I’ve been with Tracy since 1996 and up until this weekend she’s not been a fan of my gambling, but I also told her I’d have a big win.
“I just cannot believe how big this is!
“I’ve been doing a 50p each-way Lucky 15 on four horses on a Saturday for years, but have only done the Scoop6 three times – the week before this I got four winners.
“But after I bought my fishing bait on Saturday I had £2 left and had another go – it’s the best two quid I have ever spent.
“I was fishing with my club, Mansfield Pescatorious, on Sunday after the win, but I finished last as I’d netted my big win the day before and caught some sleep on the bank.
“I could not breathe when I realised I won the money – I was jumping round the living room and dropped to my knees in shock when it won.
“Tracy was dozing off on the sofa and even though I was into the last leg with five winners already she said, ’You’re not lucky enough to win that’.
“I put the race on the big TV and I woke her up watching the last race screaming, ’He’s won it!’.
“I just love being given the opportunity to pat the horse that made me a millionaire and my daughters want me to give him a J2O as he’d need it after his run.
“I am now looking into owning a horse with Alan King – who was my favourite trainer even before this happened.”
He went on: “I’ve no plans for a new car as I got a 2010 Ford Galaxy just seven weeks ago, but the number one plan is to buy a five-bedroomed detached house and we can get one of those in Mansfield for anywhere between £230,000 to £280,000.
“Then we plan the holiday of a lifetime to Disneyland in Florida – we usually go camping in Norfolk, Scarborough or the Isle of Wight.
“My biggest win before this was six years ago on New Year’s Day when my 50p each-way Lucky 15 bet won £2,400 when I was at my local course, Southwell, with Casey.”
Betfred boss Fred Done presented Craig with his bumper cheque, while winning jockey Fergus Sweeney was also in attendance.
Done said: “It is tremendous to hand over the cash – for Craig this is a dream come and he could add a further £5million plus to his haul this weekend.
“I’d love him to do that and making millionaires is what the Scoop6 is all about. It’s the best bet on the planet and Craig and Tracy are living proof of the life-changing sums that can be won for just £2.”
