The Rabbi's Hat

 

A young Irish fellow went into a neighborhood bar. He counted out enough change for a beer. While drinking the beer he began telling the bartender about how his day went. 

Earlier in the day, he was standing on the corner and he saw an old rabbi walking down the street.

It was a breezy day and a gust of wind blew the rabbi's hat off his head. He chased after it, but the wind kept blowing and the old man couldn't catch up with his hat.

The young fellow saw this happening and being a good hearted fellow, he ran after the hat and returned it to the rabbi. The rabbi thanked the young Irishman, blessed him and gave him a twenty dollar tip.

The young man took his twenty dollars to the horse track. When he got there, he placed a $20 bet on a long shot named Top Hat and the horse won, paying off 50-1.

The young man took his winnings, and placed it all on a horse named Stetson, another long shot. Stetson won as well, paying off 75-1.

The bartender was impressed. He asked the young man what happened to all the money.

"I was feeling particularly lucky. I placed a third bet."

"I saw a horse in the third race named Château. Knowing that is French for some sort of fancy hat, and that all my luck today had to do with hats, I bet all of the money on that nag, but it came in last."

The bartender shook his head, but didn't correct the young man. He did, however, ask him which horse won.

"At 100-1 a Japanese horse named Yarmulke," said the young man as he finished his beer.