Kentuckyderby.com $5 Million Pay Day Prize Goes Unclaimed
The Kentucky Derby $5 Million Pay Day, a free Internet-based contest of skill offered exclusively through www.kentuckyderby.com , challenged players to pick the exact order of finish for the 2004 Derby, which had 18 starters. Of the 250,000 individuals who registered to play the online game, no one was able to correctly select the entire running line for the race.
However, one individual, Nan Sako of Parma, Ohio, out-finished a quarter- million competitors in capturing the $25,000 consolation prize. By picking the first five Derby finishers in order, Sako bested 21 players who selected the first four finishers and 486 contestants who picked the first three in order.
The suburban Cleveland woman, who made her picks by watching NBC Sport's racing coverage, reading about the Derby in the Cleveland Plain Dealer newspaper and listening to family member's handicapping advice, had an unusual reaction upon being notified that she won.
"I was very skeptical -- I didn't believe it," she said.
After some convincing, Sako's doubts about the $25,000 consolation prize turned to joy. She said she plans to use the 'Pay Day' prize money to help pay for her son's wedding and perhaps a vacation.
"It couldn't come at a better time in our lives," she said. "I'm really thankful."
Her husband, Corky, jokingly expressed one regret. "We should have bet the superfecta [which paid $41,380]."
The contest generated considerable interest, as the number of contestants increased by 45 percent from last year's 172,000 entries. Tens of thousands signed up to play in the final hours that entries were accepted. In fact, the number of unique visitors who logged in on Derby Day at www.kentuckyderby.com , the official site of the Kentucky Derby, reached over 1.4 million, an increase of 70 percent from last year's number of unique visitors. These visitors amassed more than 4.2 million page views, nearly doubling the corresponding result in 2003.
"The second annual Kentucky Derby $5 Million Pay Day accomplished everything we had hoped except crown a grand prize winner," said Karl F. Schmitt Jr., president of the Churchill Downs Simulcast Network ("CDSN"), which developed and administered the online contest. "The chance to win $5 million or a consolation prize of $25,000 -- coupled with our promotional efforts with NBC Sports, ESPN and ESPN.com -- enabled us to generate considerable excitement around the contest and enhance our brand by bringing fans to our network of Web sites. Nearly 1.5 million visitors had the opportunity to learn more about America's premier horse race, the Kentucky Derby.
"We look forward to reaching additional fans next year as we promote the 131st Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks and the quality racing at Churchill Downs Incorporated-owned racetracks," Schmitt continued. "Not everyone can win a big prize like Ms. Sato, but we do offer compelling information that will improve everything from fans' experience at one of our racetracks or facilities to their handicapping knowledge base."
The 2004 Kentucky Derby $5 Million Pay Day contest was open to residents of the United States and Canada (except Quebec), as well as England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Kentuckyderby.com is the official Web site of the Kentucky Derby and is owned and operated by Churchill Downs Incorporated. As one of the world's premier sporting events and the first leg of horse racing's Visa Triple Crown Challenge, the Kentucky Derby traditionally takes place on the first Saturday in May. The 131st running of this celebrated event will be held May 7, 2005, at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. Approximately 150,000 people attend the Derby in person, with more than 20 million people tuning in via television and radio worldwide.