Johnny Eager (Taylor) es un gángster que, para no levantar sospechas, lleva una doble vida: finge que vive en una humilde casa con sus parientes, pero en secreto continúa siendo el rey del juego ilegal. Lisbeth (Turner) es una inocente chica que conoce a Johnny y se enamora de él.

At the racetrack, cleaner, Willy Joy is tricked into buying Lindy Lou, a useless greyhound, who's not too healthy either. While getting the dog back in shape, Willy crosses paths with a gang of crooks who's specialty is fixing the races with doped dogs.

A reluctant dog track owner tries to outrun his problems with the bet of a lifetime.