New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has vetoed a rule change to end the wagering coupling of entries ridden by married jockeys, or jockey coupling, reports bloodhorse.com.
“The rule applies neutrally to all jockeys, without regard to gender, and is intended to enhance the wagering public’s confidence in the integrity of a race,” Hochul said in a veto message Monday night. “Coupling of entries does not prevent related parties from participating in a race; rather, coupling of entries merely aggregates those related parties into a single betting interest in the race.”
The jockey coupling rule was highlighted earlier this year when jockeys Trevor McCarthy and Katie Davis told the Paulick Report that the outdated regulation was negatively affecting their careers in the state of New York. McCarthy has since moved his tack to Southern California, and Davis hasn’t ridden since May at Pimlico.
Gov. Hochul did add that she will direct the state gaming commission to review the “continued need for mandatory coupling and the circumstances under which such a requirement might be relaxed.”
Read more at bloodhorse.com.
