Show Telegram Short Story Its It's Happened Before By Martie lartie Ramson I hope my friend Moe Robbins will forgive me for this but the urge to write this story overshadows all consequences Moe was still is for that matter a darn good clothing salesman in fact one of the best in the business But Moe was very reticent in proclaiming proclaiming proclaiming pro pro- claiming his virtues as a salesman He preferred to tell how many winners winners winners win win- ners he picked In the days day's races and how the handicappers who get paid for picking winners are all wet Moe like all other betters who bet for pastime never delved into the history of a horse but played hunches and jockeys Two we weeks ks before U the c closing of tho the Santa Anita race track Moe Mo who did not believe in working Saturdays Saturdays Saturdays Sat Sat- suggested to his wife that the they go to the races Now Sarah Robbins didn't know anymore any more more about race horses than I know khow about Ei Einstein's 1 tein's theory of relativity but never having seen a arace arace arace race horse or a aa horse race she availed herself of the opportunity During the drive to the track while Sarah was enjoying the beautiful beautiful beautiful beau beau- panorama of immeasurable acres of orange groves groves and the Incomparably in incomparably incomparably in- in comparably delicate ar aroma ma of df f orange blossoms Moe much to the disturbance of her nervous state was trying to read the entries from froma a newspaper select probable winners winners winners win win- ners and drive at the same time However they arrived at the track without any mishaps M e of ot course immediately purchased purchased purchased pur pur- chased a program making a lot of notations along the entries which Sarah did not understand nor was she interested As the prices were listed for the first race Moe Moc kept talking about this horse and that horse and place bets and show bets all of ot which made Sarah feel as if she had just arrived from the old country After some consideration Moe bought a 2 ticket on Pickwick to win saying to Sarah The clackers dockers dont don't give him a chance but Im I'm betting him on the nose Why sure Moe she said You do as you think best They're not any smarter than you are After which she kept w wondering who the clackers dockers were and what Moe meant by playing on the horses horse's nose I Well VeIl believe It or not Pickwick won the race and Moe collected So you see Sarah he was saying saying saying say say- ing youve got to use your he head d when you play the horses You cant can't just take your money and throw it away on a horse horsa because some handicapper tells you its it's goIng going going go go- Ing to win He only gets paid for what he thinks not for what he knows I 1 guess maybe that's right Moc Moe u replied Sarah indifferently Moo didn't bet on the second or third the second being a maiden and the third a three-furlong three race By this time Sarah was becoming more enthusiastic Before the start of ot the second race she remarked to toMoe toMoe toMoe Moe that No 4 horse sure looks better than the rest and her pulse quickened as No 4 oi came down the stretch in front of the others to win the race Moe left her ore before the race started to get a bite Moe bet a 6 combination in the fourth race on Mr Tony explaining to Sarah that he was betting the horse to come In first second and third Sarah looked at him as if to ask how a horse can come in first second or third in one race but Moe evidently sensing what was on her mind hastened to make the tha situation situation situation situa situa- tion clear to her Mr Tony ran a close fifth which I lowered Moes Moe's standard as 88 a horse horseplayer horseplayer I player in Sarah's estimation But Bui the bottom dropped out of her esteem es esteem esteem es- es teem for his ability when he bet betoff betoff off oft 20 in the fifth and sixth races He was sure however that he knew who was going to win the thelast last race Sarah he said Im going to bet 10 on Evening Star The horse Is three to one In other words Sarah Sarah- this race will put me even I hope so Moe was all all aU the comment she made As there was a wait of some 2 25 minutes between races they decided to look the horses over in the paddock paddock paddock pad pad- dock as they came out Moe couldn't help admiring his choice Evening Star while while Sarah Sarah thought that Playmate was a gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous gor looking creature Yes Sarah said Moe but only fools bet on 20 to 1 shots shob and that's what they are offering on Playmate te so you know how much of a chance he has While Sarah was admiring the horse she was still wondering whom hom Moc Moe meant by they Sarah Moe said Ill meet youat youat you youat at the rail where we have been standing Im I'm going over to buy buya a ticket on Evening Star to which Sarah said nothing It was a great grent race and even Sarah tried to cheer Moes Moe's selection selection tion Lion home but Evening Star ran a poor second to Playmate Poor Mac Moc was afraid to talk about the race race to Sarah for if It there was anything he hated it was to J hear ear someone tell him I told you so Well he sighed lets go home Guess Im I'm not so 50 good as I 1 thought I 1 was Yep guess we can go now re replied replied replied re- re plied Sarah and as they started back from the rail she asked Moe what do I do with these Poor Mae Moe His vanity was was was' crushed as she showed him a win ticket for 5 on Playmate Where where he stammered did you get this 1 Why Moe I r was standing right behind you when you bought your ticket Copyright for The Telegram |