I was walking down the street the other day when I saw my mate Paddy.

I walked up to him and mentioned that I had the most bizarre dream the night before last. Paddy listened intently as I told him that the dream consisted of one thing and one thing only. So I told him that all I had dreamt about was a huge glowing number "5." It was made of gold and sparkled with diamonds.

Paddy's curiosity had been raised. I went on to say that the first thing that I did in the morning was to grab the race form and look up the fifth race.

Paddy raised an eyebrow. So I told him that the #5 horse in the fifth race was named "The Fifth Element." Paddy started grinning. Then I told Paddy point-by-point what I did that day.

- I ate five bowls of cereal for breakfast and drank five cups of coffee

- I went for a five mile jog to clear my head

- I took a five minute shower

- I put on the fifth dress I found in my wardrobe

- I sat in my car for five minutes before starting it up

- I drove to the racetrack and parked in the fifth bay in the fifth row

- I entered through the fifth admissions gate

- I bought five programs

- I went to the fifth betting window and bet $555 on the fifth horse in the fifth race

- I went and sat in the fifth row of the main stand making sure there were five people sitting on either side of me.

I settled in and waited for the race to start.

"Well," said Paddy. "Did the horse win?"

I frowned at Paddy and said, "Stupid horse came in fifth."