The Gay Dog

Jim Gay, a miner, owns the successful greyhound Raving Beauty who has been winning at Rodney Park. Frustrated by poor returns on his bets, he hatches a plan to improve the dog’s starting odds so he can win more money. He enlists his friend Peter to help manipulate the betting landscape so the town believes the dog has better prospects.

The two miners pretend the dog is ill, and rumours begin to spread through the local community. This deception is designed to influence betting behavior and create a scenario where Raving Beauty appears stronger in the eyes of the bettors. The scheme sets the stage for how the race will be perceived.

Jim and Peter visit the vicar and learn he is looking after his brother’s greyhound, Prince of Erin, who is due to race against Raving Beauty on Saturday. The discovery ties the two dogs to the impending race and the betting odds. The vicarage becomes a focal point for information about the upcoming event.

Peter digs into Prince of Erin’s form and discovers it has good performance history from Shelbourne Park and bloodlines linked to Mick the Miller. He also begins a budding relationship with the vicar’s daughter Peggy, adding a personal subplot to the racing drama.

To secure a better starting price, Jim and Peter tell the local community that Raving Beauty is fit and well, betting that Prince of Erin will win. Their deception aims to sway the town’s wagers away from the actual favorite and toward the dog they’re influencing.

Jim’s daughter Sally attends the Women's Institute to avoid Peter’s advances and meets a final-year medical student who lectures on first aid. She quickly falls in love with him, adding a personal stake to the upcoming events.

On race day, Jim and Peter back Prince of Erin at 7-1, while the local crowd bets on Raving Beauty at 1-1. Both dogs run well, but Prince of Erin wins the race. The victory confirms the locals’ suspicion that Jim and Peter knew more about the dogs’ true form.

Although Prince of Erin wins, Jim has won enough money to take a taxi home, donate to the vicar’s charities, and repay four family members their stake money. The aftermath provides financial relief and a sense of generosity following the deception.

Peter offers to be Sally’s best man at her wedding, but instead departs with Peggy, the vicar’s daughter. The turn of events marks the end of their potential romance and reshapes the social circle around the characters.

The film closes with Jim and Maggie going to Blackpool in a new motor car, with Jim sitting in the back alongside Raving Beauty. The holiday represents a fresh start after the racing turmoil and deception.

A subplot reveals Jim's daughter and the vicar's son getting engaged to be married, adding a hopeful note to the community’s future beyond the racing drama.