Have you ever thought about what you would do if you won the lottery? Trainer Sandra Morgan of Vancouver, British Columbia sat down with GoHorseShow to discuss how her life has changed since she won the lottery in May of 2011. Morgan and her family have been enjoying their new financial freedom with some exciting new purchases and must-see destinations. Find out what they have been doing with their new found riches.
Q: How did you feel when you first found out you won?
A: My husband called me while I was the grocery store and told me in a voice I barely recognized that we had won the lottery, but I didn’t know whether to believe him or not because he is quite a jokester. Then, when I saw him, I knew it was true. We both had such an elated feeling for weeks!
Q: How much did you win?
A: The total was $35.789 million
Q: Did you end up depositing all the money in your local bank?
A: Yes, it all went into our checking account for a few weeks until we figured out how to invest a large portion of it. It was very weird to look at our online banking and see all of those numbers.
Q: What fun things did you buy?
A: We bought a beautiful new place in Vancouver, British Columbia with a gorgeous home, immaculate barns, huge indoor arena with a fabulous viewing lounge and suite, and office and car garage attached. We used to live on Vancouver Island and had to take a ferry every time we went to a horse show or Dave wanted to go to see a hockey game. We bought our 19 year-old son a new BMW. Dave got a new truck; a few new saddles and tack, and there are a couple of new horse trailers in the works. We have all gotten new jewelry and watches and just lots of fun stuff!
Q: How has it changed your life?
A: Waking up to financial freedom.
Q: Any downsides?
A: Well, there really are no real major downsides, other than I may have a shopping addiction. (laughs) At the beginning, we had a ton of letters from random people and investors asking for money. One investor bought us a huge calculator, because he figured we had some big calculations to make– but that has slowed down. There are still a couple of people that won’t quit hassling my husband, so, he changed our phone number to an unlisted one.
Q: We’ve all heard about some people that win the lottery go off the deep end or squander it all—did you learn anything from those stories?
A: We just aren’t those kinds of people. We both have had separate businesses for the past 20 years, so we have an advantage since we know how to handle and manage money.
Q: Did you put yourself on an allowance? Or a certain amount a month?
A: We just now have gotten a monthly pension (bankers call it that), but we can get more if necessary.
Q: How do other people treat you differently?
A: I don’t think anyone has treated us differently—oh, except, for when we were in Las Vegas, and my husband ordered a $3,600 bottle of Rothchilds red wine at dinner. The managers came down to meet us and shake our hands, and told us we were always welcome there.
Q: How have your horse show friends reacted to your good fortune?
A: All of my horse show friends and customers have been awesome and some of my customers lived where we moved to so they were ecstatic.
Q: Any fun horses that you have bought with some of the money?
A: Yes, I bought some outstanding weanlings, and three hunters–one by Hot Ones Only, one by Allocate your Assets, and one by Dynamics Impression. Also, an absolutely amazing western colt by One N Only, and also a two year-old filly by Allocate your Assets, and I am looking for an awesome two year-old western one right now.
Q: Do you still train full-time?
A: Yes, I still train full-time, but I have found time to go on some fun trips to the Turks and Caicos in the Caribbean, Vegas and Scottsdale.
Q: Does you husband still work?
A: Dave quit his job on television the day that we got the check. The funny thing is that they just send you on your way with this huge check in your hand, with no security people at all. We drove to the nearest bank and asked a manager if we could bother him for a few minutes and put the check on his desk, and his eyeballs just lit up and he said he had never seen a check like that before. Dave goes to the gym everyday and putters around here on the farm and does all of the cooking and cleaning
Q: Anything else you would like to add?
A: Keep buying lottery tickets folks, because it really does happen, which to this day, I still cannot believe that we won the lottery. Who wins the lottery???
Q: Thanks Sandra for sharing your thoughts!
