Let It Ride

Cab driver Jay Trotter and his friend Looney record conversations with a hidden microphone. Looney's new tape reveals two men discussing an upcoming horse race and a manipulated horse that looks like a sure thing to win big. The idea of a big payday motivates them to head to the track for a $50 win bet.

In the bar's restroom, Jay prays for one big day and a passerby overhears him, quipping let it ride. The moment bolsters his resolve and he places the $50 bet on the tipped horse. The exchange pushes him toward chasing the streak.

The tipped horse crosses first in a close photo finish, paying $28.40 to win and yielding Jay about $710. The win gives him a rush of confidence and a sense that luck might be on his side. He starts to believe the tape's promise of a lucky day.

Armed with the tape, Jay gives it back to the two men from the cab ride who tipped him off. In gratitude, they offer a substantial tip for the next race. Jay bets bigger and wins again, feeding his growing conviction that fortune favors him.

Encouraged by back-to-back wins, Jay resolves to let it ride on the rest of the races. He contemplates parlaying all winnings and chasing the idea of a perfect day at the track. The streak makes him confident but increasingly reckless.

Just before the next race, Jay is arrested in a case of mistaken identity. He is released without charges, only to learn the horse he planned to bet on has lost while he was detained. The interruption shakes him but he remains convinced that today is still his day.

After his release, Jay resumes wagering and climbs the social ladder at the track. He meets well-to-do gamblers, including Mrs. Davis and Vicki, and even hires a track security guard to protect his growing winnings. The track becomes his social stage as his luck appears to continue.

Pam shows up at the clubhouse furious about Jay's constant absence and focus on gambling. Jay tries to calm her and explains his hot streak, hoping to reassure her. The scene reveals the strain his gambling has placed on their marriage.

On the way home, Jay buys Pam a diamond necklace to appease her, but he arrives to find her intoxicated and passed out. The moment underscores the widening distance between Jay's new life at the track and his domestic life. The tension compounds as he contemplates the cost of luck.

Back at the track, Vicki suggests an affair with a rich man, tempting Jay with more wealth. He pauses to address the audience directly, breaking the fourth wall, and ultimately rejects the advance to stay loyal to Pam. The moment marks a conscious choice to value his relationship over easy gains.

Despite Looney's caution, Jay makes a bold final bet of 68,000 on Hot to Trot. The two men argue as the race begins, and the crowd's energy mirrors Jay's mounting tension. He clings to the day’s momentum, convinced that luck will carry him through.

The race culminates in a tense finish with Hot to Trot crossing first. The crowd erupts as Pam appears to share in the moment, and Jay proclaims that he is having a very good day. The announcers reveal the twist: a 40 to 1 potential would have netted roughly 2.7 million, but the big wager drops the odds to 8 to 1, yielding about 612,000.