Katherine Mooney
History PhD, Yale University
History MPhil, Yale University
History MA, Yale University
American Studies BA, Amherst College, Summa cum laude
Author of the NASSH award-winning Race Horse Men
Read the EHC review of Race Horse Men here
What got you in to history? In to equine history?
I can’t even remember when I figured out that I wanted to do something that involved history. And I’ve been a horse person for even longer than that– it’s my mother’s fault, since she and her sisters put me on a horse basically before I could walk. I was in my first year of a PhD program in history and looking for something to read that was NOT related to my academic life, and I picked up Ed Hotaling’s book on black jockeys. The first thing I noticed was that the guys in his sources talked about horses the same way people I’d grown up with had, and I realized that equine history was a thing I could do. It was probably the best day of my professional life.
Who is your favorite historical horse?
Too many to have a real favorite. But I really would have liked to see Lexington and Lecomte in their races in the 1850s.
What are you working on right now?
I’m working on a shorter study about the projection of the qualities of human females on mares and how that’s affected how they’ve been perceived by both racing professionals and fans. So there’s everything in there–from theory about how women relate to horses to critical readings of Facebook and Zenyatta.com. Any suggestions welcome!
Read Katherine Mooney’s review of Mr. Darley’s Arabian here.
Thank you for your contribution and truth telling Ms. Mooney. I have often thought of how so many people survived slavery because of this unique American past time sport. The throughbred field did not only assist people born in slavery to become free but also enabled them to be self sustaining for years to come pre & post the abolition of slavery. Their resources would help fuel the abolitionist movement. My research is in the area of Monmouth County NJ. I named the project “The Monmouth County Freedom Story.” My tale shares both the sweet and bitter part of what the throughbred industry meant to me and my ancestor, some from Maryland others from a small town founded by run away slaves named Pine Brook in approx. 1795 NJ. Thank you for sharing on this jewel of history that we all need to learn more about in order to appreciate the freedoms and injustices that Black folks endure or enjoy today. Karen Brittingham-Edmond