A Jewish bookie was at the races playing the ponies and losing his shirt.  He noticed a Priest step out onto the track and blessed the forehead of one of the horses lining up for the 4th race.That horse – a long shot – won the race.

Next race, as the horses lined up, the Priest onto the track. Sure enough, he blessed one of the horses.  The bookie made a beeline for a betting window and placed a small bet on the horse. Again, even though it was another long shot, the horse won the race. He collected his winnings, and anxiously waited to see which horse the Priest would bless next.   He bet big on it, and it won.  As the races continued, the Priest kept blessing horses, and each one ended up winning.

The bookie was elated. He made a quick dash to the ATM, withdrew all his savings, and awaited for the Priest’s blessing. The Priest stepped onto the track for the last race and blessed the forehead of an old nag that was 100/1. This time the priest blessed the eyes, ears, and hooves of the old nag.  The bookie knew he had a winner and bet every cent on the old nag. He watched dumbfounded as the old nag pulled up and couldn’t even finish the race.

In a state of shock, he confronted the priest, “Father! What happened? All day long you blessed horses and they all won. Then in the last race, the horse you blessed never even had a chance. Now, thanks to you I’ve lost every cent of my savings!”

The Priest nodded wisely and with sympathy.  “You’re not Catholic are you, my son?”

“No, I’m Jewish”.

“That’s the problem”, said the Priest, “you don’t know the difference between a blessing and the last rites.