Retired Kentucky couple wins $225K with special numbers: ‘Hot dang, we won!’

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (FOX 56) — A Louisville couple’s special numbers helped them secure $225,000 playing the Kentucky Lottery.

Lottery officials said the couple, who asked to remain anonymous, matched all four white balls in the Kentucky Lottery Cash Ball 225.

“What I loved about our win is the numbers that we won on were the numbers that I picked,” the wife said. “His birthday. My birthday and our anniversary date.” 

The couple said they have been playing Cash Ball 225 for a year. They would buy three plays on their tickets, one with their personal numbers, and the other two lines would be quick picks.

The retired couple did not realize they had hit the top prize until three days after the Aug. 22 drawing.  

“Because we buy our tickets for 7 days, I usually check them when I get around to it,” the wife said.  

The day they discovered their big win began at 6:45 a.m. with yard work and a few cups of coffee. 

“We were just sitting around after the yard work, and I decided to get another cup of coffee and head up to my room, where I keep the tickets. I checked our tickets and there it was,” the couple said.  

She said she asked her husband to come upstairs.  

“I said, ‘Would you check this for me?’” she said.  

The husband wasn’t instantly convinced.  

“My reaction? I’ll be perfectly honest with you. My reaction – because I’m a little skeptical – was ‘I won’t believe this until we get to the Lottery office and see.’ She is the one who plays the Lottery and buys our tickets. She is the lucky one,” he said.    

They both were convinced when they went to Kentucky Lottery Headquarters in Louisville and were handed a check for $162,000, after taxes. 

“When we gave the person here at the Lottery our ticket and she scanned it for us and said ‘Congratulations,’ I said, ‘Hot dang, we won!’” the husband said.  

The couple plans to make some renovations to their home, and the wife said she may buy a new car because she has had hers for years.  

“Since I’m the one who buys the tickets, I might buy him four new tires,” she joked.