Chrissy wins $1,637 from her two dollar bet on the Daily Double. In purchasing power, that is the equivalent of $5,886 in 2022 money. (Her two winning horses were "Nanny, Nanny" in the first race, paired with "Broken Elevator" in the second race.)
The "Daily Double" is a form of racetrack betting where the bettor chooses a winner in both the first race and the second race, and wins only if both horses win their respective races. If either one loses, the ticket is worthless.
The payoff depends upon how many other bettors hold Daily Double tickets with the same combination. Generally speaking, the highest payoffs go to situations where longshots win both races. In contrast, if favorites win both races, the Daily Double payoff can be relatively low.
In the 1980 equivalent of 2023 dollars, Janet spent about $278 on that bottle of wine, and Chrissy spent roughly $742 on that stuffed giraffe.
The title is based on a biblical quote from First Timothy "The love of money is the root of all evil".
Gambling winnings, lottery winnings, payroll bonuses, inheritances and monetary gifts are commonly taxed at 40% of the initial amount.