By 1729 the Jockey Club was fully up and running in Newmarket, and while Kings Plates for 6-year-olds and 5-year-old mares were held at various times throughout the year, the racing season still required structure. The Noblemen and Gentlemen's Contribution Purse had been replaced by the October Sweepstakes, both being in October at the end of the season. In 1729 discussion took place about introducing a new, more valuable sweepstake of 100 guineas a throw at the start of the season aimed at younger horses, 4-year-olds referred to as colts and fillies because, at this time. they were the youngest horses to race. The first such sweepstake, appropriately named the Great Stakes, was staged on Thursday 23rd April 1730 for 4-year-old colts and fillies carrying 8st 7lbs over 4 miles, with a further condition that the horses had to have been the property of subscribers for at 2 years prior to the race. At the time it was established there were 8 subscribers for the 5 year period from 1730 to 1734, although Mr Broderick died before the inaugural running, reducing the prize from 800 guineas to 700 guineas, the subscribers being Duke of Bolton, Duke of Bridgewater, Earl of Godolphin, Earl of Halifax, Lord Viscount Lonsdale, Duke of Somerset and Sir Michael Newton.

Source: Baily's Racing Register; Newspapers of the day.

The 1st Great Stakes for 4-year-olds carrying 8st 7lbs over 4 miles
1. MONKEY, bay colt owned by Lord Lonsdale
2. FEARNOUGHT, brown colt owned by Duke of Bolton
3. POLLY owned by Duke of Devonshire
4. GRASSHOPPER owned by Sir Michael Newton
5. GREYLEGS owned by Duke of Somerset
5 ran (8 subscribers)

The 2nd Great Stakes for 4-year-olds carrying 8st 7lbs over 4 miles
1. LOUSE, grey horse owned by Sir Michael Newton
2. UNNAMED bay horse owned by Duke of Somerset
3. COMICAL, bay horse owned by Duke of Devonshire
4. JESSAMIN TOM owned by Duke of Bolton
5. WASP, grey horse owned by Lord Lonsdale
6. BOBTAIL, bay horse owned by Lord Godolphin
6 ran (8 subscribers)

The 3rd Great Stakes for 4-year-olds carrying 8st 7lbs over 4 miles
1. STARLING, grey colt owned by Duke of Bolton
2. BRISK, chestnut colt owned by Sir Michael Newton
3. BROWN GEORGE, brown colt owned by Duke of Devonshire
4. UNNAMED grey colt owned by Lord Godolphin
5. WHITEHEELS, grey colt owned by Duke of Somerset
5 ran (7 subscribers)

The 4th Great Stakes for 4-year-olds carrying 8st 7lbs over 4 miles
1. BLACKLEGS, brown colt owned by Duke of Devonshire
2. SLY, chestnut colt owned by Duke of Bolton
3. FAVOURITE, chestnut filly owned by Sir Michael Newton
4. QUIBBLE, chestnut colt owned by Duke of Somerset
4 ran (7 subscribers)

The 5th Great Stakes for 4-year-olds carrying 8st 7lbs over 4 miles
1. SPIDER, grey colt owned by Lord Lonsdale
2. CHANCE, chestnut colt owned by Duke of Somerset
3. MISS PARROT, grey filly owned by Sir Michael Newton
4. SPOT, chestnut colt owned by Duke of Devonshire
5. PATRIOT, brown colt owned by Duke of Bolton
5 ran (7 subscribers)

The 1st renewal of Great Stakes for 4-year-olds carrying 8st 7lbs over 4 miles
1. MERRY ANDREW, bay colt owned by Duke of Bolton
2. KOULIKAN, bay colt owned by Lord Lonsdale
6 ran (7 subscribers)

The 2nd renewal of Great Stakes for 4-year-olds carrying 8st 7lbs over 4 miles
1. FLEEC'EM, grey colt owned by Duke of Devonshire
2. SENECA, bay colt owned by Sir Michael Newton
3. DAPPER DICK, chestnut colt owned by Lord Halifax
4. SULTAN, bay colt owned by Lord Godolphin
5. SPAVINS, grey colt owned by Duke of Bridgewater
5 ran (7 subscribers)

The 3rd renewal of Great Stakes for 4-year-olds carrying 8st 7lbs over 4 miles
1. LATH, bay colt owned by Lord Godolphin
2. SQUIRT, chestnut colt owned by Lord Portmore
3. JOHN TROT, bay colt owned by Duke of Devonshire
4. SULTAN, grey colt owned by Lord Lonsdale
5. BOB, bay filly owned by Duke of Bolton
6. BARB, bay filly owned by Duke of Somerset
7. BEELZEBUB, bay colt owned by Sir Michael Newton
8. UNNAMED bay filly owned by Lord Halifax
9. COUNTESS, bay filly owned by Lord Weymouth
10. HOGMOUTH, chestnut colt owned by Duke of Bridgewater
10 ran (11 subscribers)

The 4th renewal of Great Stakes for 4-year-olds carrying 8st 7lbs over 4 miles
1. DISMAL, grey colt owned by Lord Godolphin
2. CARELESS, chestnut colt owned by Lord Halifax
3. ACHILLES, grey colt owned by Duke of Bridgewater
4. OEDIPUS, brown colt owned by Lord Portmore
5. HOPEFUL, grey colt owned by Duke of Bolton
6. HIP, bay colt owned by Duke of Devonshire
7. BISCUIT, grey colt owned by Lord Weymouth
10 ran

The 5th renewal of Great Stakes for 4-year-olds carrying 8st 7lbs over 4 miles
1. ELEPHANT, grey colt owned by Sir Michael Newton
2. UNNAMED bay colt owned by Duke of Bridgewater
3. BLACK SILVER, grey colt owned by Duke of Somerset
4. PUNCH, bay colt owned by Lord Halifax
5. DARLING, chestnut colt owned by Lord Weymouth
6. SNUFF-BOX, brown colt owned by Duke of Bolton
7. SLIPBY. Bay colt owned by Lord Portmore
9 ran