Painting: Théodore Géricault, The Epsom Derby (1821), public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Your turn! Tell the joke step by step with the key words only. Say each step aloud first, then click Show a model to compare and listen. You don't need the exact numbers: the important thing is that each horse does better than the one before… and that the dog does even better! When you can do all 6 steps without the models, film yourself (check the assessment grid first).
1Set the scene
four racehorsesa stablerainingboredtrack records
There were four racehorses in a stable one day.
It was raining, and they were bored, so they started talking about their track records.
2The first two horses
boastedso far this yearThat's nothing!since the beginning
One of them boasted:
“I've been in eight races so far this year, and I've won five of them.”
“That's nothing!” interrupted the second racehorse. “I've run in twelve races since the beginning of this year, and I've won seven of them.”
3The third and fourth horses
broke intaken part indone better thanonly lost
The third racehorse broke in: “Well,
I've taken part in fifteen races this year, and I've won ten of them.”
“I've done better than any of you,”
claimed the fourth racehorse. “So far this year, I've been in eighteen races, and I've only lost four of them.”
4The greyhound
noticeda small greyhoundlisteningwagging his tail
At this point, they noticed that a small greyhound dog was sitting and listening to their conversation, wagging his tail.
5The greyhound's record
I don't want to bragforty-five raceshaven't lost any
“I don't want to brag,” he said,
“but I've been in forty-five races this year, up till now,
and I haven't lost any of them!”
6The punchline
amazednever heardan impressed silencea talking dog
The horses were absolutely amazed.
“That's just incredible!
I've never heard anything like it!” said one of them, after an impressed silence.
“A talking dog!”