Ep 6. Dead Heat

In Cold Case season 7 episode 6, titled "Dead Heat," the team investigates the unsolved murder of a promising young jockey whose life was cut short on the eve of a major horseracing event.

The episode kicks off with a frantic rush to the racetrack where before a major race a prominent jockey, R.J. Holden, is found dead. The death of Holden has been a mystery for a decade, and the team is tasked to solve the cold case before the big race. They discover that Holden, who was known to be a bit of a womanizer, was actually living with a girlfriend, Tina, who had no idea that he was a jockey. Tina remains a potential suspect, however, we soon learn that Tina had no apparent motive for the murder, and the investigation turns to Holden's fellow jockeys.

The investigation leads the team to a fellow jockey named Eddie, who was waging a bitter rivalry with Holden. Eddie is embittered, living in a trailer and has an anger management problem. He is quickly brought in for questioning when data from a previous case file reveals that he and Holden were fighting the night of Holden's murder. However, Eddie denies all involvement in the murder. The team then narrows their focus on the handful of owners who had paid to have Holden's services for the race.

The team delves deeper to investigate the world of horseracing and interviews several owners of the horses Holden was scheduled to race on the night of his murder. As they investigate more about Holden's professional life, they find out more about his personal life. The team discovers that Holden had been accused of drugging his own horse by a young female rider who was to ride on the same track with him. Holden manages to win the race, and the accusations against him are forgotten. However, her accusations may have more to do with Holden's murder than they originally thought.

The team discovers that the female rider, Tracy, had been in love with Holden after they trained together a few years ago, but Holden dismissed her. In retaliation, Tracy accused him of drugging a horse, but the investigation concluded there was no evidence to support her claim, and she was stripped of her jockey license. The team soon realizes that something else happened between Holden and Tracy that night, and their love affair was not the only secret.

The investigation into the mystery death takes a new turn, and the team uncovers some dirty secrets involving the rival jockeys, corrupt racehorse owners, and a nefarious gambling ring. They soon discover that the murder of Holden was the result of a deadly scheme crafted among the jockeys, owners, and trainers. As the team delves deeper into the case, they race against time to solve the puzzle and save an innocent man from paying the price.

"Dead Heat" is a gripping episode of Cold Case that will take you through the twists and turns of the horse racing industry's dirtiest secrets. The episode's compelling plot, intriguing characters, and suspenseful storyline will leave audiences hooked from the beginning until the end. As the team races against time to solve the case, viewers will be left on the edge of their seats, waiting to see who will be unmasked as the killer.