***SPOILERS*** Chinese/American P.I Charlie Chan, played by non Orientel Scandinavian Warner Oland, has his hands s full here getting shot and kidnapped by a gang of bookies as he uncovers a sinister plot to make a big and illegal score by them in switching horses in the up and coming rich Santa Juanita Handicap for three year old's and ups. It's the favorite in the race Avalanche who's been switch with another horse during an arson fire on the ship taking him from Honolulu to L.A for the big race. That's after the horses owner Major Kent, George Irving, was found dead in Avalanche's stall after he got Charlie Chan to investigate why his horse was made to get disqualified in his last race the Melbourne Cup in far off Australia.
Charlie gets the help of his #1 bumbling son Lee, Keye Luke, in doing all the leg and dirty work for him in uncovering the plot for the bookies to make a major killing at the race track. Charlie himself escapes from his captors, the bookies, together with #1 son Lee to get to the Santa Juanita Park to re -witch the two horses. That while Lee disguised as a Chinese laundry boy distracts the security guards by exploding his laundry truck just before the big race started. Still determined to pull off their scheme in winning the race the bookies plan to stop the now real Avalanche from winning by shooting him with a blowgun just before he hits the finish line.
***SPOILERS*** It's after the race that the truth comes out to who was responsible for all the crimes, including two murders, that lead up to it. Charlie in his unique way of explaining the facts behind the case was so boring and mechanical in explaining them that the person responsible just without as much as a whimper turned himself into the police. That in him knowing that life behind bars or even being executed was far better then being Chinese water tortured or talked to death by Charlie Chan.
Charlie gets the help of his #1 bumbling son Lee, Keye Luke, in doing all the leg and dirty work for him in uncovering the plot for the bookies to make a major killing at the race track. Charlie himself escapes from his captors, the bookies, together with #1 son Lee to get to the Santa Juanita Park to re -witch the two horses. That while Lee disguised as a Chinese laundry boy distracts the security guards by exploding his laundry truck just before the big race started. Still determined to pull off their scheme in winning the race the bookies plan to stop the now real Avalanche from winning by shooting him with a blowgun just before he hits the finish line.
***SPOILERS*** It's after the race that the truth comes out to who was responsible for all the crimes, including two murders, that lead up to it. Charlie in his unique way of explaining the facts behind the case was so boring and mechanical in explaining them that the person responsible just without as much as a whimper turned himself into the police. That in him knowing that life behind bars or even being executed was far better then being Chinese water tortured or talked to death by Charlie Chan.