have a dog in the fight

In reference to dogfighting and its spectators.

have a dog in the fight (third-person singular simple present has a dog in the fight, present participle having a dog in the fight, simple past and past participle had a dog in the fight)

1. (US, chiefly in the negative) To have a personal stake in the issue.
   • 2006 October 1, Dennis Lehane, “Refugees” (00:32:06), in The Wire, season 4, episode 4:

     Wilson: He's right. They endorse Royce, fine, 'the hell else they gonna do? But what they say and don't say from the pulpit the Sunday before the primary we still got a dog in that fight.
     Carcetti: I do this right, they respect it.
     Wilson: An' if they don't, at least they get to see a beggin’-ass white man on his knees. Always a feel-good moment for the folks.

• have a dog in the race