Young Brierly struggles to save his father, Major Brierly, from the clutches of alcohol after the Great War. At the same time, he prepares Major Brierly's horse, which served bravely with the Major at the front, for the Kentucky Derby.
Shortly after the United States enters World War I in 1917, a Broadway actress agrees to let a naive soldier court her in order to impress his friends, but a real romance soon begins.
A man and woman fall in love at first sight, but everyone in their universe tries to keep them apart except one old fool with a sentimental heart.
In an effort to be able to afford expensive treatment for her gravely ill American husband, a retired German entertainer returns to the cabaret as Blonde Venus and catches the eye of a wealthy politician.
Unemployed jockey Tod Taylor gets a huge break when he is hired by Matt Riley. Within weeks, Taylor is riding Riley's horses to a string of victories. Success and the limelight go right to the jockey's head. Big-time gambler Tom Drake hires a blonde sexpot to seduce Tod and introduce him to the roulette wheel. Showing off, he starts playing for stakes way over his head. With Drake holding a huge note that Tod can't possibly pay off, he delivers an ultimatum — lose the big race tomorrow or a police detective will be waiting at the finish line to arrest him for passing bad checks.
Nappus sends his grandson north for schooling to shelter him from their community.
When she can't support her illegitimate child, an abandoned young woman puts her up for adoption and pursues a career as a torch singer. Years later, she searches for the child she gave up.
