The Thoroughbred (1916)

Major Ainslee is a dignified Southern gentleman who loves a racehorse best and a good horse race second. All that, of course, excepting his daughter Betty. The old Major's generosity and utter disregard for business details brings him to the point where he is on the verge of being impoverished. He is not particularly worried, however, for the big race of the year is only a short ways off and his horse, Miss Minta, is as sure to win it as he is sure Kentucky is the grandest state in the Union. And then the Rev. Thomas Hayden, who comes from New England, arrives on the scene and immediately starts a campaign to do away with horse racing in the State. What's more, he wins his fight and the law making it illegal to race horses is passed just in time to make it impossible to hold the big race the Major has been counting on. The minister has fallen in love with Betty, but she spurns him when he takes up his fight against that which her father loves best. The young minister is genuinely fond of the family, however, and when he hears of their financial embarrassment he tries to lend them what little money he has. His offer is scorned as coming from one who has shown himself to be anything but a real friend. Through Doc Witherspoon, a friend of the Major, the young minister learns that if the Major had the money to send Miss Minta to a neighboring state where the big race is t be held he could undoubtedly recoup his fortunes. The young man fights it out with himself and finally decides to put aside his conscience and go to the aid of the people he really loves. With Doc Witherspoon as a fellow-conspirator, he gets the Major to accept his money, the latter, of course, being unaware from whence it really came. Miss Minta wins and the Major is restored to financial ease. Doc then betrays the minister and the Major takes the young man into his heart and his home.