“I backed a horse last week at ten to one. It came in at quarter past four”
“I backed a horse last week at ten to one. It came in at quarter past four”—the first numbers are odds, but the second numbers are a time (it took the horse over three hours to run the track)—was voted on the the top 50 jokes of all time in October 2010. The joke has been credited to British prop comedian Tommy Cooper (1921-1984), but earlier citations are needed to confirm this.
Wikipedia: Tommy Cooper
Thomas Frederick Cooper (19 March 1921 – 15 April 1984) was a British prop comedian and magician. He was a member of the Magic Circle, and was respected by traditional magicians. He habitually wore a red fez, and his appearance was large and lumbering, at 6 feet 4 inches (1.93 m) and more than 15 stone (210 lb; 95 kg) in weight.
The Telegraph (London, UK)
Tommy Cooper dominates list of best jokes
Heard the one about two aerials meeting on a roof, falling in love, and getting married? The ceremony was rubbish but the reception was brilliant.
By Peter Hutchison
9:45PM BST 21 Oct 2010
(...)
TOP 50 JOKES OF ALL TIME
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36. I backed a horse last week at ten to one. It came in at quarter past four.
22 October 2010, Daily Record (Glasgow, Scotland), “Funniest Jokes Ever—Official” by Brian McIver, pg. 8:
TOP 40 JOKES OF ALL TIME
(...)
36 I backed a horse last week at 10 to one. It came in at quarter past four.
Google Books
5,000 Great One Liners
Compiled by Grant Tucker
London, UK: Biteback Publishing
2012
Pg. ?:
I backed a horse last week at ten to one. It came in at quarter past four.
Google Books
Basic Maths Practice Problems For Dummies
By Colin Beveridge
Chichester, West Sussex, UK: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
2012
Pg. 10:
A famous Tommy Cooper joke goes as follows: I backed a horse last week, at twenty to one. It came in at quarter past three.
Google Books
5,000 Great One Liners
Compiled by Grant TUcker
London, UK: Biteback Publishing
2012
Pg. ?:
I backed a horse last week at ten to one. It came in at quarter past four.