Summary
From the dusty, desperate fringes of the racetrack, where fortune's fickle finger has left him bereft, the pragmatic Boots and his steadfast companion, Push, find themselves on the precipice of destitution. A chance encounter at the opulent roulette table, however, pivots their trajectory: Boots, with a quick-witted intervention, rescues the inebriated Kendall from a predatory theft, inadvertently setting in motion a chain of events that will redefine his existence. This act of unexpected chivalry leads Boots to Kendall's bucolic hometown, a seemingly tranquil haven where he encounters the spirited Pert Barlow. Drawn by an undeniable magnetism, Boots forsakes his itinerant life, securing a position in Pert's father's mercantile establishment. It is here that he unearths Gold Heels, an equine relic of past glories, now relegated to neglect. A spark of ambition ignites, and Boots dedicates himself to rehabilitating the decrepit racehorse, envisioning its triumphant return to the track. Meanwhile, the town grapples with tragedy as a child's death underscores the dire state of the local orphanage. Pert, fueled by compassion, spearheads a fundraising drive, amassing a significant sum for a new facility. Alas, this communal goodwill is shattered when the funds, entrusted to Old Barlow, vanish. All fingers point to Boots, whose prior struggles with luck make him an easy scapegoat, leading to his unjust incarceration. Yet, loyalty prevails; his comrades orchestrate a daring escape, spiriting Boots and Gold Heels away to the grand race. As the majestic horse thunders towards victory, the true architect of the theft, Kendall, is unmasked, clearing Boots' name and paving the way for his reconciliation with Pert and a blessed future under Old Barlow's approving gaze.
Synopsis
Following a streak of hard luck at the racetrack, Boots and his pal, Push, are down to their last dime. Boots saves a drunken young man named Kendall from being robbed of his considerable winnings at the roulette table and later drives Kendall back to his small hometown. There Boots meets Pert Barlow and decides to stay near her, taking a job in her father's store. Old Barlow owns a broken-down racehorse named Gold Heels, which Boots buys from him and trains for the big race. At the local orphanage, a child dies because of the dilapidated condition of the building, and Pert raises enough money to build a new orphanage. Old Barlow takes charge of the money, but it is stolen. Boots is accused of the crime and sent to jail. He is sprung by his pals, loads Gold Heels in a horse-trailer, drives to the track, and watches his horse win the big race. Kendall is exposed as the real thief and Boots is reconciled with Pert, whose father gives them his blessing to be married.
