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JOCKEY CLDB PROCEEDINGS. The annual meeting of the Jockey Club was fheldin New York Thursday. The following members were in attendance: August Belmont, F. R. Hitchcock, James Galway, P. J. Dwyer, H. H. Knapp, William Astor Chanler, S. S. Howland, J. G. Heckscher, Andrew Miller, J. H. Bradford, A. F. Walcott, A. H. Morris, F. K. Sturgis and James R. Keene. Rule 147 of the racing rules was amended by the addition of the following as the second paragraph: "A jockey under suspension shall not be permitted to ride in races for anyone during the .period of bis suspension." James Galway, F. R. Hitchcock and Andrew .Miller were elected stewards to serve for two jrears. The stewards held a meeting after the annual meeting for the purpose of organization and general business. The following officers were re-elected: August Belmont, chairman; James R. Keene, vice chairman; F. K. Sturgis, secretary and treasurer. The treasurer was authorized to pay the bill, amounting to 2, for medical services to jockey Martin Bergen, Applications for reinstatement lodged by William Becket and H. Flippen were denied. It was expected that racing dates for 1899 would be announced but the matter was laid over until Monday next. Much curiosity exists concerning the number of open dates that may be allotted to Saratoga. The amendment to rule 147 has a decided bearing on the much discussed starting problem. Restricting a jockey to his own stable has been a failure as a punishment for unruly jockeys and was always a mistaken concession to owners anyhow. If the truth was known, it would probably be established that owners are as much, or more, to blame for bad conduct of jockeys at the post than any other element. Precious few owners direct their riders to go to the post and obey the starters orders strictly. On the contrary, owners and trainers, as a rule, direct their riders to get away in the lead regardless of fines, starters orders, suspensions or any other punitive provisions of the rules. This amendment will pinch where it ought to pinch, and if another rule providing that any person who paid or furnished the money to pay a jockeys fine without absolute proof that the money was to be surely deducted from the jockeys salary would be suspended, it would be another salutary move in the direction of securing that obedience to the starters orders, while at the post, that should prevail on all racetracks, i
