The Day the Bookies Wept
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Leslie Goodwins
Screenplay by	Bert Granet George Jeske
Based on	Crazy Over Pigeons in 1939 Collier's by Daniel Fuchs
Produced by	Robert Sisk
Starring	Joe Penner Betty Grable Richard Lane Tom Kennedy Thurston Hall
Cinematography	Jack MacKenzie
Edited by	Desmond Marquette
Music by	Arthur Morton
Production company	RKO Pictures
Distributed by	RKO Pictures
Release date	September 15, 1939 (1939-09-15)
Running time	64 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

The Day the Bookies Wept is a 1939 American comedy film directed by Leslie Goodwins and written by Bert Granet and George Jeske. The film stars Joe Penner, Betty Grable, Richard Lane, Tom Kennedy and Thurston Hall. The film was released on September 15, 1939, by RKO Pictures.^[1][2][3]

Plot

Pooling their resources, New York City taxi drivers–who are tired of losing money at the racetrack–designate Ernie Ambrose to go to Kentucky and buy them a racehorse.^[4] Ernie leaves behind his sweetheart Ina and spends all their money on a horse, relying on advice from a fake "colonel" by buying a nag called Hiccup.

The horse is useless until Ina discovers via the colonel that Hiccup has a taste for beer. At long odds, she bets $2,000 on the drunken horse to win, which it does, bankrupting bookies all over town.

Cast