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QUALIFICATIONS OF JOCKEYS IN FRANCE. The race committee of the Societe d Encouragement have just made several important modifications in their rules that apply to jockeys riding in France. No jockey can hereafter ride in a public-race unless he is at least thirteen years of age. and the application for his license must be accompanied by a copy of his birth certificate. This does not apply to jockeys coming over from England to ride, as it Is speciajly stipulated in the first clause of rule 78 that "jockeys holding a license from the English Jockey Club are qualified to ride in France." Every applicant for a jockeys license Is also required to forward a subscription to the Benefit Society for the assistance of trainers, jockeys, and stable lads: jockeys who live within a radius of eighty miles of Paris have to send forty francs, and others twenty trains. Xnder the new regulations, apprentices must be not less than thirteen and not more than twenty-one years of age. The number of races for apprentice jockeys will he considerably increased this year. The Societe d Encouragement is endeavoring to revise the rules of racing in France, and also the rules of the Steeplechase Society, in order to make them more in accord with each other, and a special committee has been appointed to try and draw up one uniform set of rules which shall be approved by both societies. This would lie greatly appreciated by owners and Irainers, for at present there are many contradictory clauses that often cause con fusion.
