This November, a collaboration between the racing community and a well-known social media personality resulted in a social media giveaway, offering an exclusive experience to the victor. Introducing Samantha Davies, the fortunate individual who emerged triumphant from the contest and is preparing to journey to the venue to relish in a weekend brimming with top-tier equestrian competition and an opportunity to connect with a digital media figure.
Name: Samantha Davies
Age: 23
Where you’re from: Raleigh, N.C.
Current job/career aspirations: Currently pursuing an advanced degree at a university located in North Carolina, with a concentration on dietary requirements and physical activity of horses. Future career aspirations: awaiting determination! Perhaps instruction, investigation, a business specializing in animal feed, but remaining engaged within the equine sector in some manner.
How did you become aware of the promotional event, and what motivated you to participate? After concluding an internship centered around horses during the previous year, I began following an organization dedicated to promoting racing on a particular photo-sharing platform. In Lexington, I developed friendships with numerous individuals in the field, spanning various roles. A close acquaintance had the privilege of experiencing the racing event last year and shared glowing reviews. Since then, it has become a personal aspiration! As a student situated on the Eastern Seaboard, traveling to the West Coast involves significant expenses, so my circle of friends and I, hailing from various regions, resolved to make it a reality eventually. Consequently, upon encountering the advertisement in my digital feed, I opted to participate and included a couple of my aforementioned companions as a gesture towards that shared aspiration, never genuinely expecting to win. Surprisingly, here we are, and I still struggle to comprehend the reality!
How did you first become acquainted with the social media personality? Have you been an established admirer? Being a relative newcomer to the Thoroughbred racing scene, having joined last year, I found it captivating to observe the emerging contenders. A particular contender proved exceptionally engaging, and I diligently monitored its preparatory events leading up to the main event. It was through following its progress that I discovered a content creator.
What topic excites you most to discuss with the social media figure upon meeting? I am eager to discuss with the content creator their holistic journey, encompassing their opportunities to travel to different racing venues, their preferred races witnessed or tracks visited, and so on. Furthermore, it would be intriguing to learn about their upcoming ventures and their intended level of involvement.
How did your fascination with competitive horse events initially develop? During my internship, the research focused primarily on Thoroughbreds, with a specific farm in Ocala, Fla., accommodating 3-year-olds undergoing training, while another farm in Lexington, Ky., housed former racehorses. Engaging with these horses, the diverse settings, and the physiological investigations we undertook were strongly linked to the racing industry, naturally sparking my interest! Alongside my fellow interns, we had the chance to tour prominent breeding facilities, equine healthcare and rehabilitation centers, sales events, and races. In Ocala, our duties included preparing the 3-year-old Thoroughbreds for the exercise rider, granting us firsthand experience in that facet of “training” and handling.
Who is your all-time preferred racehorse and what is the reasoning? An iconic female horse! Upon discovering this legendary mare, I was immediately enthralled. Furthermore, her achievement as the inaugural mare to secure victory in a prominent event further elevates her status. A true legend, consistently outperforming male counterparts and providing spectators with an unforgettable spectacle. Additionally, her physical presence is captivating! I am impressed by her imposing stature when juxtaposed with a human figure. (In homage to female empowerment, I also must acknowledge a recently retired mare, another esteemed female competitor.)
Have you previously attended the prestigious competition? No, I have not! I am about to fulfill a long-held desire.
Which aspects of this year’s event are you anticipating the most? I am eager to reconnect with my friend (the guest) from overseas and partake in such a unique occasion together. I am impatient to engage in some wagering and attempt to predict the victor! I anticipate identifying which horses warrant close observation throughout the racing season.
Are there any additional individuals you aspire to encounter during your time at the event (another celebrated figure, coach, rider, horse, etc.)? I aspire to exchange greetings with as many individuals as feasible! It would be remarkable to encounter a triumphant rider, and other renowned riders. Esteemed coaches would also be an incredible privilege. One can never anticipate which prominent individuals will attend races, so I remain optimistic about spotting them!
Do you possess a cherished historical race from the prestigious series? I would nominate an iconic mare’s triumph.
Which horse or race are you most anticipating witnessing in person at the upcoming racing event? The main event on Saturday! I eagerly await the opportunity to witness prominent names within the sport and simply immerse myself in top-tier competitive excitement firsthand.
Where were you located when you received the news of your victory, and what was your immediate emotional response? I was accompanying a friend’s canine companion on a walk while simultaneously participating in a virtual conference call. Initially, I entertained the notion that it was an elaborate jest, yet I harbored a profound yearning for it to be genuine. Internally, I was experiencing considerable agitation! I communicated via text message with my circle of equine enthusiasts (hailing from diverse nations), and pandemonium ensued. Each of them sought confirmation of its veracity, but thereafter, a surge of collective elation engulfed everyone!
Upon informing your social circle, what was their reaction? Individuals initially dismissed my assertion of winning the experience as a jest until a public acknowledgement was made on social media, at which juncture exhilaration and inquiries regarding the specifics of the prize and the race ensued. My companions found the circumstance of my triumph highly amusing. My relatives are exceptionally enthusiastic! I was born in a particular city but regard North Carolina as my familial residence. Consequently, my maternal figure characterized it as a homecoming to the Golden State after a considerable duration!
Whom are you accompanying, and did the prospect of being your chosen guest generate competition? I am extending an invitation to a companion I met during my time in Lexington, hailing from a particular country, as my guest. She has imparted invaluable insights into the Thoroughbred domain, and our shared experiences have been consistently rewarding, hence the compelling rationale for her accompaniment. We derived immense pleasure from attending racing events together during the prior year, so I recognized her as the ideal candidate, contingent upon her availability. Without a doubt, there were several eager volunteers vying for the role of my guest! She constitutes my primary resource for all matters pertaining to horse racing, thereby facilitating an unambiguous decision.
