Katie Davis, who is a seasoned jockey with a decade of experience has returned to horse racing with a bang. She amassed a career-best $2.3 million in annual income this year, thanks to her outstanding performances. While Davis is still coming to terms with this season, fans are already looking forward to another exciting season next year.

Davis showed immense resilience and determination on her way to this success. She overcame challenges both in and out of the saddle. In a recent interview with the New York Racing Association, Davis opened up on her remarkable year.

Davis’s zeal to take up the unknown in horse racing

Katie Davis registered 28 wins this year. One highlight was her association with Daddy Knows. This horse is not everybody’s cup of tea. But Katie took up the challenge. In her words, “I connected with a difficult horse like Daddy Knows. I had no idea until I got in the paddock what he was like…”. But luck is known to support the Bravehearts. Davis secured three wins with him for the Ray Handal. She quipped, “Ride horses people don’t want to ride. I really wanted to prove myself“. But what was the cherry on the cake moment for her in 2023?

“Riding Saratoga was a great moment for me…when I walked out of that paddock everyone was clapping and roaring, yelling, ‘you go girl!’ Trainers would look at me and say they’d never seen such a thing”, Davis pointed out. However, success did not come easy for the daughter of retired jockey-turned-trainer Robbie Davis.

“I lost my identity as a rider [while pregnant] – there was nothing wrong with me, I was just having a child. It’s not like I was hurt or out on an injury. I had to sit out for six months”, she said in the interview. But she kept herself busy and active to stay in shape. “I had Riley with an emergency C-section. I was off for a month and wanted to get out there to do something”, stated Davis.

But she made her comeback easy and balanced her motherhood duties with horse racing without making the latter her sole focus in life. Davis’ conscious take on mental health probably helped her maintain the mental frame. She also has her husband Trevor McCarthy by her side in this.

Katie Davis’ candid take on mental health

Both Katie Davis and her husband have been vocal advocates for jockeys’ mental health for long. In the interview, Davis also shared their strategies for mental health. While she relies on meditation and mantras, Trevor resorts to ice baths for the same. However, she has some ultimate advice for happiness in life.

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“You’re in control of your happiness and you need to balance that. People can talk but you know deep down inside you have your own voice and always go with your gut and what you’re feeling,” Davis stated. It seems, Davis has learned this balancing act well in her life as she is getting ready to take the lead next season, taking her motherhood duties along.

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