ALBUQUERQUE – A Hobbs woman plans to take her first vacation in six years after winning $50,000 from the New Mexico Lottery.
Lupe Madrid won a top prize playing the lottery’s $5 “Gold Mine 9X” Scratcher.
Above: Lupe Madrid, winner of $50,000 “Gold Mine 9X” Scratcher
Madrid was nearly finished playing the game when she revealed the five-figure prize. She scratched into the play area from the ticket’s right-hand edge so that she revealed the end of prizes first.
“I saw zeroes, and then I saw the comma and another zero,” Madrid recalled for New Mexico Lottery officials in Albuquerque today. “And then I saw the five in the front.”
Madrid discovered the prize Friday evening.
“It’s been a long weekend,” she said. “I haven’t slept in three days. I’m shaking.”
Madrid’s husband, Robert, bought the ticket at Roadrunner No. 4 located at 1832 N. Turner St. in Hobbs. He came with his wife to claim the prize.
“Baby, you’re awesome,” Madrid told him.
Earlier in the month, Hobbs residents Landon Wilke won a $1,000 Scratcher prize while Pamela Dawson won a $660 Pick 3 prize.
Legislative Lottery Scholarships
All profits from the sale of New Mexico Lottery games fund an in-state college tuition assistance program. Since 1996, the New Mexico Lottery has raised $600.2 million for education and more than 90,000 students have attended college on Legislative Lottery Scholarships. In the past 18 years, nearly 1,900 students from Lea County have received $5.2 million in Legislative Lottery Scholarships.
More information about Legislative Lottery Scholarships is available at www.nmlottery.com.