Red Ryder (Donald Barry) manages to drag the unconscious Beth Andrews (Vivian Austin) out of harms way, but the pass to the Wilson ranch is now no longer passable for the Circle R cattle. When crooked attorney Calvin Drake (Harry Worth) learns that the ranch may receive water from neighbor Ed Madison (Edwin Brady), he reminds the accommodating rancher that he is behind with his mortgage payments and suggests that the Circle R instead pay for the courtesy -- knowing full well that the Duchess (Maude Pierce Allen), Red's aunt, will thus be unable to meet her own debts. In order to save the Circle R from financial ruin, Red decides to join a local stagecoach race for the grand prize of 1,000 dollars. To avoid having Red participate in the race, Ace Hanlon (Noah Beery), Drake's cohort, has the young rancher kidnapped. Cherokee Sims (Hal Taliaferro) takes his place in the race, however, and Hanlon orders his own driver, Matt Grimes (Ernest Sarracino), to use every trick in the book in order to win. Sims is easily dispatched with, but Red Ryder, who has escaped imprisonment with the aid of Little Beaver (Tommy Cook), manages to climb onboard the runaway stage and continue the race. In a last ditch attempt to sabotage Ryder's efforts, henchman Slade (Reed Howes) rigs up a hangman's nose and Red rides straight into the trap.

~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide