The Dixie Handicap plot
Judge Roberts hides his financial situation from his daughter, Virginia, whom he raises in luxury by selling off his estate piece by piece. After years of living this lie, the judge is left with only the family homestead and a horse named Southern Melody. The horse dies shortly after giving birth, but her foal, Dixie, shows great speed and promise when trained by Johnny Sheridan, the judge's partner and friend. The overseer of a neighboring stable tells Virginia about her father's limited circumstances and offers to help the judge financially if she will marry him.