Karen S. Davis is an award winning author, photographer,
journalist, musician, actor, and much more! A world traveler, Karen’s
favorite spot is at the racetrack – with the horses! An exciting interview with
one of the world’s top equine photographers…
Welcome
Karen!
Photographing at Santa Anita must have been amazing. What spurred
the idea for 'Santa Anita MorningRhapsody'?
Many years ago, while working in a stressful, thankless
office job, I began to suffer chest pain. The diagnosis foretold my imminent
death. I asked myself what I would do if tomorrow were my last day on earth.
The next morning, well before sunrise, I stood at the rail at Santa Anita race
course watching the horses, my first love. As I listened to them thunder down
the track in the darkness, and as the sun rose over the San Gabriel Mountains,
I decided to return every morning until I dropped dead right there! Before
long, thoroughbred riders and trainers were greeting me, and one day a trainer
asked if I'd like to "learn the business." I had nothing to lose! I
became his assistant and gained admittance to the behind-the-scenes world of
the racetrack. I quite naturally took photographs (another passion), and my
desire to share them prompted the idea of making a book to celebrate this
wondrous place and the beauty of the horse. (Incidentally, the doctors were
wrong. But I vowed never to take another soulless job and never have.)
What is your favorite photo from your book?
Who is your favorite racehorse? Jockey?
Secretariat, without a doubt. Remembering the Belmont in
1973, when he won by 31 thrilling and unbelievable lengths to get the Triple
Crown, still brings tears to my eyes. He was single-hoofedly [sic] responsible
for my falling in love with thoroughbreds. The jockey I like and admire most is
Eddie Delahoussaye, a wonderful human being. I enjoyed watching him bring many
a horse to victory in the stretch from last place, all with the touch of his
hands. There was no one I wanted more to write the preface to my book, and he
agreed to do it!
Are racetracks as intriguing on the inside as on the outside?
As intriguing as the people who work and live there. I spent
every single morning there for almost three years and found each day so
entertaining that the screenplay I wrote [also called Santa Anita Morning
Rhapsody] practically wrote itself—I just kept my ears open and listened to the
dialogue around me. Racetrack people certainly have their own world. I laid out
the photos in my book to give people a glimpse of that. The back side [the
stable area] itself is like a little town. They used to tell me that the fences
were there to keep us in, not to keep other people out! After training in the
mornings, a group of us routinely went to breakfast, often joined by visiting
veteran jockeys and trainers. Seated around the table were hundreds of years of
horse experience, and as many stories. One of my favorites was about a bug boy
[apprentice jockey] looking forward to riding in his first race. He was so
excited he invited his whole family up from Mexico. The horses were loaded into
the starting gate, the bell rang, the doors flew open—and the poor boy's mount
stood stock-still while the others galloped down the track. Another tale was
about a trainer towing his horse in a trailer on the interstate from L.A.
to Del Mar. He glanced in his side-view mirror and saw his horse chasing him
down the freeway. (They made it to Del Mar, safe and sound.)
Do you have an anecdote from Santa Anita that you'd like to share?
The whole racetrack was an anecdote, as you can see
from my previous answer! Every day something happened that was an absolute
gift, because for me being there was like a childhood dream come true. One of
my most enjoyable mornings was spent at Del Mar (the Southern California racing
circuit consisted of Santa Anita, Hollywood Park, and Del Mar…I went to all three).
A group of seniors were on an organized outing, sitting in the grandstand when
I walked by with my stopwatch after clocking my horse's workout. They asked me
if I'd speak to them and I spent half an hour answering their questions and
giving them the inside scoop on racing and training. I liked to share all the
fun I was having with other people! I once proposed to Santa Anita using me as
such an ambassador, given that racing needs a boost in the U.S. I actually gave
such talks every time I did a book signing. The track didn't take me up on my
offer (I think they believe slot machines are the answer to increasing
attendance), but to me the horse is the essence of racing, what makes it unique
and appealing. I'm still game to fill this role if they change their minds!
A photographer, journalist, musician! Which is your favorite
creative outlet?
It's impossible to prefer one over another. Every endeavor
is as thrilling and fulfilling as the next—traveling and photographing the
world, singing at Carnegie Hall, following my inspiration to write music. I've
always believed in enjoying every talent I was lucky enough to be born with.
What's the key to capturing the perfect photograph?
Hand me the camera! :-) For me it's patience and
passion. I never studied. An international photographer once told me I was born
with the skills that others have to be taught … that I do everything right
naturally, "by the seat of my pants." Perhaps that's what's meant by
having a gift.
Where is your favorite place in the world?
Italy. All of it! I feel at home there. I love the people,
music, language, food, art, architecture, landscape, cities, villages, history.
I'm lucky enough to have family in Campania whose lives I'm privileged to be a
part of. I think they're the most wonderful people in the world. The family
casa is my favorite place!
What are you currently creating?
I hope to put more and more time into composing classical
music, while continuing to photograph when opportunities arise.
List 5 things your fans may not know about you:
1. My (late) husband and I were married in the Lavanttaler
Alps in Austria.
2. After being a VIP guest at John Glenn's 1998 Space
Shuttle launch (along with most living astronauts), I had a private tour (just
me!) inside Space Shuttle Columbia at Kennedy Space Center. My guide had worked
on every spacecraft since project Mercury and gave me the commander's seat to
power up.
3. I used to fly single-engine airplanes out of Burbank (Bob
Hope) international airport.
4. As a volunteer for Comic Relief USA, I delivered
Christmas gift boxes in my pickup truck (ho! ho! ho!) to the homes of all the
stars on our HBO TV shows. Louis Nye's wife invited me in to see his
scrapbooks.
5. Luciano Pavarotti kissed me backstage after a recital at
the Royal Opera House in London.
Connect with Karen…
Official website: www.KarenSDavis.com
CD Baby:
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/karendavis1
Book on amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Santa-Anita-Morning-Rhapsody-Karen/dp/0966241436
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