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Re: Baaaah!Posted by James Briggs on October 29, 2002 In Reply to: Baaaah! posted by R. Berg on October 29, 2002 : : : As some of you will know, I have a site where I've posted origins of as many phrases as I can find. I get regular questions from around the world, plus suggestions about origins - I've posted some of these recently. I thought you would all be interested in the following message that came today. : : : "I came across your site while
looking up an expression that I heard this weekend at Churchill Downs in Louisville,
USA. On a behind-the-scenes tour of the track, our guide pointed out a goat tied
to a stable door next to a thoroughbred. She explained the goat was present as
a companion to an otherwise anxious horse visiting a new stable. She said the
expression "to get one's goat" derived from the dastardly practice of a rival
trainer stealing the opposing horse's goat and unnerving him before the big race.
....I thought it was bunk, but decided to research it when I got home. : : Wasn't there a sheep in a similar role on the Sopranos a few weeks back? : That explanation of "get your goat" has turned up here before and been discounted. See http://www.phrases.org.uk/bulletin_board/3/messages/432.html (link below). I guess that you think the 'offering' from the race track is a wind up! I'm not so certain. I can see no good reason wht the fellow should target 'little ol me' with spam. I prefer to believe that he saw what he said he saw. Too trustworthy you say. Well maybe, but I always believe my patients/clients!
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