Katie Davis McCarthy
The fight to end a controversial New York State rule requiring the horses of married jockeys to be coupled in the wagering on that race is reaching the homestretch.
At a Feb. 28 meeting of the New York State Gaming Commission members will vote on a jockeys coupling proposal that will eliminate the current rule requiring the coupling of horses that are trained or ridden by a spouse, parent, issue, or member of the household of another jockey in the race.
If that proposal is adopted, there would then be a 60-day commenting period before a final vote by the Gaming Commission to enact the new rule, which will be followed by a brief period to post the regulation before it takes effect at racetracks.
The change was sparked following the December 2020 marriage of jockeys Trevor McCarthy and Katie Davis (now Katie Davis McCarthy) who were both riding at Aqueduct Racetrack and, when they rode in the same race, had their horses coupled in the betting even though there were different owners and trainers.
At the time, Davis McCarthy said, "It's not the 1800s anymore. The rule needs to be changed."
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Davis gave birth to the couple's daughter, Riley, in December. She resumed working horses earlier this month and hopes to resume her career as a jockey in the late fall or next winter.
"I hope they approve the new rules dropping the coupling not only for myself but for other people like me and others who come after me," Davis said in a Feb. 24 interview. "It's been a long road and I'm blessed people have taken the time to look at the rule and consider changing it. The situation is one that the stewards can handle and they can talk to the individuals involved if they believe something wrong is happening."
Among the other items on Monday's agenda are a final vote that would allow stewards the discretion to require a Thoroughbred jockey to serve a suspension for a riding violation at the same track where the incident occurred.
Other proposals facing an initial vote along with the jockeys coupling rule include changes to the Pick-5 rules allowing each Thoroughbred racetrack the option of offering a consolation payout on the wager.
The commission will also consider proposals to:
— Change the Thoroughbred harness Pick-4 consolation and carryover rules that would mirror the current Pick-6 regulations.
— Remove the requirement for a person applying for a jockey's agent license to have been licensed and have acted as an exercise person, apprentice jockey, jockey, assistant trainer, or trainer in New York or another jurisdiction for at least one year. The proposed change would instead allow the stewards or other commission designee to determine whether an applicant is qualified by reason of experience, background, and knowledge.
— Eliminate the need for jockeys to be weighed with muzzles, martingales, and breastplates.
— Establish a standard time period for requesting a hearing on horse racing license determinations, set forth acceptable service methods for the commission, and set forth the duty of licensees to keep addresses updated for the commission.
Since the rule involving where jockeys serve their suspension was passed previously and has undergone a commenting period, if approved Monday it would go into effect once the change has been posted by the commission.
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