 Riskin had written previous screenplays for Capra for "The Miracle Woman" (1931), "Platinum Blonde" (1931), "American Madness" (1933), "Lady for a Day" (1933), and "It Happened One Night" (1934)—receiving an Academy Award for the latter film.As an owner of race horses and a regular at tracks, Riskin was able to effectively capture the atmosphere and dynamics of horse racing and the types of characters common to that environment, such as jockeys, stable hands, and gamblers.While filming at Tanforan Race Track, Capra became dissatisfied with the happy ending of the original script, wanting instead a more bittersweet and ambivalent ending comment on the American success ethic.