Married jockeys McCarthy, Davis will have horses coupled if riding in same race

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Jockeys Trevor McCarthy and Katie Davis are a couple in more ways than one.

McCarthy and Davis were married in December. Both have moved their tack from Maryland to Aqueduct for the winter. Under a New York State Gaming Commission rule, when the two are riding horses in the same race in New York, those horses will be coupled in the wagering. That includes stakes races.

:: Want to get your Past Performances for free? Click to learn more.

On Friday, both rode in the same race twice. On Saturday, they were scheduled to ride against each other three times. On Sunday, they both have mounts in races 3, 4 and 9.

The rule, 4025.10 (f), states: “All horses trained or ridden by a spouse, parent, issue or member of a jockey’s household shall be coupled in the betting with any horse ridden by such jockey.”

Braulio Baeza Jr., the gaming commission steward, said the rule “has to do with joint finances.”

Maryland, where McCarthy and Davis rode against each other multiple times while engaged, does not have such a rule.

Baeza said the gaming commission rule does not apply to brothers, such as Irad Ortiz Jr. and Jose Ortiz, because they do not live in the same household. Also, the rule does not apply when a child of trainer Robbie Davis is riding a horse for another trainer in a race in which he is also running one with a different rider because Davis’ children are considered emancipated from him.