STL All Sports

Early one morning a bookie who was walking down a deserted street suddenly heard a sad voice groan. "Oh, what a lousy life this is!"
The bookie stopped and looked around him. There was no one in sight. As he resumed walking, he again heard the sorrowful voice. "Who'd ever believe this could happen to me," it wept. "Oh, me, oh, my!"

The man stopped and again looked up and down the deserted street. The only living thing in view was a weary-looking horse hitched to a wagon piled high with bananas. The bookie stared at the animal, wondering if his imagination could be playing him tricks. He was almost startled out of his wits when the horse looked him full in the eye and said, "Don't look so surprised, buddy. It's me talking, all right."

"This is incredible," muttered the bookie.

"Not at all," the horse moaned unhappily. "What's incredible is the life I have to lead-me, who once ran in the Kentucky Derby. All day long, from dawn to dark, I pull this heavy wagon full of bananas. And, what's more, the driver beats me and doesn't give me enough to eat."

"Horrible!" exclaimed the shocked bookie. "I'm going to talk to your owner right away and tell him what a fool he is. Doesn't he realize what a prize he has in you? Why, you're the only horse in the world that can talk! "

"No, no!" said the horse in great alarm. "Don't do it, please! If he finds out I can talk, too, he'll have me yelling, `Banana-a-a-as!' "