Race Track Entry Card Challenged : New ‘Millionaire’ May Not Be Paid

The destitute Carlsbad farmer who won $1 million in a contest at Hollywood Park has not received one penny of his prize and may never, according to the race track’s insurance company.

Rodolfo Sahagun and his wife, Concepcion, won a handicapping contest at the Inglewood track on July 21 when the two correctly picked nine winners. Sahagun said his wife filled in a card that was presented to every person who entered the track, and then Sahagun scratched out some of her selections and substituted some of his own.

Neil Papiano, an attorney for the park, said that representatives from Mission National Insurance Co., audited the remaining cards submitted and indicated to Papiano that Sahagun may have filled out two cards, which is against the rules.

The Associated Press reported that the insurance company would seek formal disqualification of Sahagun based on a sworn statement taken Thursday, when he reportedly admitted filling out two entries.

The attorney for the insurance company, James Robie, could not be reached Saturday for comment.

On the advice of his attorney, Sahagun declined to discuss the issue with reporters.

His attorney, George A. Martinez, said that neither the insurance company nor race track representatives had contacted Sahagun to tell him he was disqualified. In addition, his attorney said he fully expected to receive the first installment on the prize within two weeks.

“Essentially as we stand, I can say that I’ve received no official word from the race track that funds would not be forwarded to my client,” said Martinez, an Oceanside attorney.

“I have read wire stories that say he would be disqualified, but neither of us has been contacted,” he said.

Sahagun, who ekes out an existence for his wife and four children by growing tomatoes on four acres, said he depended on a $900 monthly welfare check to make ends meet.

Since the announcement and media hoopla over Sahagun winning $1 million, however, he has been cut off from welfare, Martinez said.

“He’s terribly confused,” Martinez said about his client. “I can’t believe that a respected race track would conduct itself in this fashion after the publicity surrounding the case.”