Who's Got Your Goat? Origins of Common Racing Terms

Ever wonder where certain sayings like, “Who’s got your goat?” come from? Or why terms such as “chalk”, “winner’s circle”, and “purse” are used? There are some pretty interesting stories behind these common racing terms that date back to the early days of racing. Once you know the history of how these sayings originated, it all makes perfect sense.

All of us have experienced days where we were down on our luck, and felt dejected or just plain annoyed. On days like this, you may be asked, “Who’s got your goat?” It’s a pretty popular saying, and we all understand what is meant by it. But not a lot of people understand how this saying came to be. After all, what would a goat have to do with your bad mood?

It is common practice for people to keep goats with their racehorses to serve as companions. As herd animals, horses have an instinctual need to be with other animals. The small size and easygoing nature of goats makes them an easy choice when it comes to picking out a friend to fit in the stall with a racehorse. Having a goat in the stall often has a calming effect on the young, excitable thoroughbreds, and as we all know, a happy horse will perform better than a nervous horse. And this is where the story begins.

If a devious gambler or shifty rival wanted a horse to perform poorly, they would sneak into the barn of the targeted horse in the dark of night, and steal the goat, causing panic in the now goatless horse. Without the reassuring comfort of the companion goat, the horse would often spend the rest of the night in a tizzy. As a result, the nervous energy spent fretting over the whereabouts of the goat all night would leave little left in the tank, come post time. Instead of having a happy, rested racehorse, you would now have a tired, nervous racehorse.

I can’t say I blame the horse. If someone stole a cute, little goat from me, I’d be livid!

Next we come to the origins of the term, “chalk”. Have you ever heard bettors referring to the favorite in a race as the “chalk”? Or have you ever scratched your head at the mention of the nickname, “chalk-eating weasel”? It might sound like an unusual and random term, but there is a perfectly good reason that this term is used.

Back in the day, before technology made its way into our lives, the names of the racehorses, along with their odds, would be written on a blackboard in chalk. When the race would be run, the results would then be written on the board with the order of finish, and the final odds of the horses would be listed beside them. While the need for a chalkboard in this sport has now become obsolete, the tradition of the chalk has remained synonymous with the favorite, and as a result, the old saying has never gone away.

It happens every day. A brave thoroughbred rises to the front of the pack and refuses to back away, romping over the wire as the victor. From there it’s off to the winner’s circle! It is such a common practice, but did you ever stop and wonder what a circle has to do with anything?

It became traditional to showcase the winner of the Kentucky Derby in a circle, to set it apart from where the other horses stood. In 1875, when Aristides crossed the finish line in front in the very first running of the Kentucky Derby, a circle of chalk dust was drawn around him in celebration. And thus, the winner’s circle was born.

In the beginning, the circle would be drawn right on the track, and this practice was put in use up until 1929. It was then when racing officials decided to display the winner closer to where the Clubhouse stood. However, in 1938, the winner’s circle of the Kentucky Derby that we all know and love today was created. The glorious circle in the infield, surrounded by roses and a stand for the trophy presentation is where every single Kentucky Derby champion has stood, from 1938 all the way to today.

Statue of Aristides at Churchill Downs

The next story is one surrounded by history, as well as racing lore. The prize-money of a race is referred to as the “purse” of the race. Today, it is a figurative term, as no purse is actually given to the winning connections of a race. But there was a time when there was a real purse on scene.

The legendary silk purse used in the early days of the sport is responsible for why the amount of money for a race is called the “purse”. As legend has it, a silk purse would be filled with money and hung over the finish line. The winning jockey would rise in his stirrups and grab the purse as his horse sailed over the finish line in front, claiming the glory as their own. It was then up to the jockey to deliver the winner’s share of the money that resided safely in the silk purse to the owners of the winning horse. This fabled practice may not be used today, but it will always live on through its name.

In a sport that is so rich in tradition, it is easy to see why such outdated terms and sayings are still alive and well today. While the methods that created the sayings may be out of practice, the sayings are here to stay, taking us back to a simpler time where it all started. It is a reminder of how our “Sport of Kings” came to be. When you hear or even use these old terms, it is, in a way, keeping the early history that our sport was built upon, alive.

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