“Lost My Identity”: Female Horse Racing Icon Reflects on Past Career Struggles

The New York Racing Association, Inc., aka NYRA, counts down to the final four racing days to complete this remarkable year. Amidst the exhilarating moments and intense competition, horse racing jockey Katie Davis stands out as a testament to her unwarranted determination, resilience, and pursuit of sporting passion. 

For Katie Davis, horse racing runs deep in her veins. Being a daughter of retired jockey and now trainer Robbie Davis and sister of horseman Eddie Davis, Katie has her ambition of horse racing with a family legacy featuring in the racing world. In addition to this, Katie’s bond with horse racing grew stronger when she married Trevor McCarthy, who is an NYRA-based jockey. But, the fairytale of Katie is not as it seems.

Katie’s self-discovery in horse-racing

In an interview with Nyra.com, Katie Davis said, “I was also getting on the bike, and I did a lot of swimming towards the last month of my pregnancy. I had Riley with an emergency C-section. I was off for a month and wanted to get out there to do something. Ray needed an exercise rider and said, ” Come on in the morning.”

Being brought up in a family with roots in the horse racing world, Katie faced an array of challenges throughout her horse racing journey. Interestingly, she shocked the spectators by revealing her unexpected move to embrace motherhood. This led to a hiatus for her; as she said, “I lost my identity as a rider [while pregnant] – there was nothing wrong with me, I was just having a child.”

However, during her pregnancy, instead of succumbing to absence from Horse racing tournaments, she stayed active in the racing community. Even during the last stages of her pregnancy, she showcased dedication by walking hot horses at Ray Handal’s barn. But, the Hiatus was not only physical as Katie found herself trapped in a gulf of mental health issues. 

Overcoming Mental-health issues

Katie delved into meditation during her pregnancy and found herself without the title of a rider. This ended up in the middle of mental health challenges. Addressing the mental health challenges witnessed by both Katie and her husband, Katie expressed, “Everyone handles it differently – not everyone can do meditation. I’ve also tried mantras – rather than guiding mediations – which can keep you focused on a positive repeating mantra. I’ve done breath work and love it. It also sounds healing and positive energy.“

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She added, “Trevor does ice baths, which help you breathe and relax because you can’t think about anything else. It’s really good for your mental health, and they have a tub for it in the jocks’ room. Not everyone can do that either!” But, for Katie, it was never impossible to tackle problems, either physical or mental. She stayed in riding shape by exploring unconventional methods such as Pure Barre and low-impact workouts. 

As the 2023 season of racing is approaching its conclusion, Katie not only stands as a formidable jockey but also as a symbol of women empowerment. Her story transcending the race tracks resonates with the complexities of identity and career. 

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