Jessica goes to the races to watch her niece ride the winning horse but then the horse's disagreeable owner is murdered after a dispute.Jessica goes to the races to watch her niece ride the winning horse but then the horse's disagreeable owner is murdered after a dispute.Jessica goes to the races to watch her niece ride the winning horse but then the horse's disagreeable owner is murdered after a dispute.
Photos
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaFeatures former Three's Company (1976) cast members: Priscilla Barnes and Norman Fell. However, the two weren't costars. By the time Barnes joined the cast as Terri Alden, Fell's Stanley Roper had already left for his own spin-off, The Ropers (1979).
- GoofsObvious stunt double when Jessica is attacked by a horse at the end.
- Quotes
[first lines]
Bookie #1: Separately, it's peanuts, Vince. Put it together, and we're chokin'.
Bookie #2: How did we know Mike Gann was bettin' all over town?
Vince Shackman: I can add.
- SoundtracksMurder She Wrote Theme
Written by John Addison
Featured review
Why Jessica's Relatives Are Prone to Suspicion
This episode marks one of the last appearances of Tony Ballen, who had been acting in film and on television since 1964, and whose last three roles come in the "Murder, She Wrote" series. Ramon Bieri, Lonny Chapman and Norman Fell have also since passed.
Jockey Tracy Macgill (Linda Grovenor) receives a visit from the sister of her father, Martin Macgill, one Aunt Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury), traveling en route from one California city to another, and stopping at Tracy's place of employ, Hybiscus Park horse racing track. (Its sign consists of script letters, which the camera swiftly pans, but it seems to read "Hybiscus Park" upon repeat viewings; the name of the race-track remains unspoken.)
Jockey Carlos Gallegos (Bert Rosario) is also on staff, but suffers severe indigestion on the day of the race, and so Trainer Jack Bowen (Lonny Chapman) assigns novice Jockey Tracy Macgill to ride champion race horse Anchors Ahoy, with the blessing of Carlos and his wife, Vicky Gallegos (Priscilla Barnes), a friend of Tracy, and to the enthusiasm of Aunt Jessica.
Couple Cliff Carpenter (Jack Carter) and Christine Carpenter (Carole Cook), superstitious about her betting, experience the action of the big race from box seats next to Jessica and Vickie, as they discuss betting strategies.
Behind the scenes, Jack Bowen has a run-in with Veternarian Mike Gann (Clu Gulager), while organized mobster Vince Shackman (Norman Fell) argues with his thugs and with Jack Bowen and with Security Chief Pat Phillips (Ramon Bieri), who has him evicted from the premises.
Groomer Cookie Milford (Derrel Maury) overhears a few of these altercations, but when he next encounters Jessica with Vickie on their way to the Infirmary, they discover a body in the stables.
Lieutenant Ted Misko (Roy Thinnes), a reformed gambler, who keeps track of his loses should he waste money on tickets, expresses disappointment when the horse which he picks comes in because he doesn't spend money on tickets.
Ted is assigned to investigate the murder, with Jessica interfering at every turn, because he arrests Tracy even though she was racing Anchors Ahoy in full view of the crowd at the time of the murder, perhaps the primary suspect because she is, of course, Jessica's relative. But the investigation shows clear signs that the race has been fixed, pointing fingers of suspicion back toward the unknowing Tracy.
Jessica continuously finding herself abducted and threatened by Bookies and henchmen and other suspects, which adds to Ted's stress level in this non-friendly environment of horse racing amid endangerment of a "Dead Heat" climax.
The cast is rounded out by Infirmary Nurse (Freddye Chapman), Security Guard (Joe Faust), Mr. P (Robert Ellenstein), Chief Steward (Don Matheson), Ernie, the Taxi Driver (Stu Gilliam), Another Ernie (Tom Dreesen), Guzmann the Bodyguard (Alex Rebar), Bookie #1 (Tony Ballen) and Bookie #2 (Richard Paradise).
Jockey Tracy Macgill (Linda Grovenor) receives a visit from the sister of her father, Martin Macgill, one Aunt Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury), traveling en route from one California city to another, and stopping at Tracy's place of employ, Hybiscus Park horse racing track. (Its sign consists of script letters, which the camera swiftly pans, but it seems to read "Hybiscus Park" upon repeat viewings; the name of the race-track remains unspoken.)
Jockey Carlos Gallegos (Bert Rosario) is also on staff, but suffers severe indigestion on the day of the race, and so Trainer Jack Bowen (Lonny Chapman) assigns novice Jockey Tracy Macgill to ride champion race horse Anchors Ahoy, with the blessing of Carlos and his wife, Vicky Gallegos (Priscilla Barnes), a friend of Tracy, and to the enthusiasm of Aunt Jessica.
Couple Cliff Carpenter (Jack Carter) and Christine Carpenter (Carole Cook), superstitious about her betting, experience the action of the big race from box seats next to Jessica and Vickie, as they discuss betting strategies.
Behind the scenes, Jack Bowen has a run-in with Veternarian Mike Gann (Clu Gulager), while organized mobster Vince Shackman (Norman Fell) argues with his thugs and with Jack Bowen and with Security Chief Pat Phillips (Ramon Bieri), who has him evicted from the premises.
Groomer Cookie Milford (Derrel Maury) overhears a few of these altercations, but when he next encounters Jessica with Vickie on their way to the Infirmary, they discover a body in the stables.
Lieutenant Ted Misko (Roy Thinnes), a reformed gambler, who keeps track of his loses should he waste money on tickets, expresses disappointment when the horse which he picks comes in because he doesn't spend money on tickets.
Ted is assigned to investigate the murder, with Jessica interfering at every turn, because he arrests Tracy even though she was racing Anchors Ahoy in full view of the crowd at the time of the murder, perhaps the primary suspect because she is, of course, Jessica's relative. But the investigation shows clear signs that the race has been fixed, pointing fingers of suspicion back toward the unknowing Tracy.
Jessica continuously finding herself abducted and threatened by Bookies and henchmen and other suspects, which adds to Ted's stress level in this non-friendly environment of horse racing amid endangerment of a "Dead Heat" climax.
The cast is rounded out by Infirmary Nurse (Freddye Chapman), Security Guard (Joe Faust), Mr. P (Robert Ellenstein), Chief Steward (Don Matheson), Ernie, the Taxi Driver (Stu Gilliam), Another Ernie (Tom Dreesen), Guzmann the Bodyguard (Alex Rebar), Bookie #1 (Tony Ballen) and Bookie #2 (Richard Paradise).
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- WeatherViolet
- Oct 29, 2009
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