Columbo

Graham McVeigh has ambitions to make Timber Ridge Farms, the family stables, into the best thoroughbred farm in the country. His younger brother’s gambling debts threatens his plans so he decides to kill him. First he lets his brother Randy believe he is fixing a race so that the farm’s horse, will win. Then Randy’s debtor, a restaurant owner named Bruno Romano, will hopefully bet heavily on it. Graham then drugs the horse. When the horse loses, he pretends to drive Randy to a meeting with Romano to pay off the gambling debt, but instead shoots his brother with an untraceable gun. Lt. Columbo arrives at the crime scene with a bottle of antacid and a bad case of heartburn; his sister-in-law served him a clam sauce and Columbo is allergic to clams. In the murdered man’s wallet he finds the losing ticket on the horse and a car wash receipt. In the ashtray he finds ashes, but no stub and no sign of the murderer’s vehicle.