The Jockey Club Plate, not to be confused with the Newmarket Town Plate which was first run on the Round Course in 1666, was restricted to Jockey Club Members and run at Newmarket annually. The earliest record of a Jockey Club Plate was in 1753 when two were staged two days apart. The first, for 4-year-olds, was run on the Round Course on Tuesday 15th May 1753 and won by Beau Clincher owned by Lord Gower, while 2 days later a second subscription Plate for 100 Guineas was contested on Thursday 17th May 1753 and was won by Crab owned by Captain Vernon. In 1764 the Jockey Club introduced the Newmarket Challenge Whip restricted to Jockey Club Members, a race run over the Beacon Course with each horse carrying 10 stone. The prize was a Whip, which contains hairs from the tail of the famous racehorse Eclipse, given to the Jockey Club by King Charles II. The 3 races provide vital evidence confirming membership of the Jockey Club. |
Tuesday 15th May 1764
Subscription Purse of 100 Guineas over 4 miles of the Round Course for 4-year-olds the property of Jockey Club Members, each horse to carry 8st
1. CESARIO (3/1), bay colt owned by Lord Northumberland
2. Bay colt owned by Lord Sondes
3. Grey colt owned by the Duke of Kingston
4. VIRAGO (7/4 fav), grey filly owned by Mr Panton
5. MISS, bay filly owned by Sir James Lowther
6. FLY, grey filly owned by Mr Calvert |
Thursday 17th May 1764
Second Subscription Purse of 100 Guineas, over the Beacon Course, for horses the property of Jockey Club Members, each horse to carry 9st
1. DORRIMOND (10/1), bay horse owned by Mr Greville
2. FLYFAX, grey horse owned by Mr Jenison Shafto
3. NARCISSUS (5/2), chestnut horse owned by Lord Northumberland
4. ROWZER, grey horse owned by Lord Rockingham
5. MANBY, bay horse owned by the Duke of Kingston
6. BOREAS (5/4 fav), bay horse owned by Lord Grosvenor
7. DAPPER (8/1), brown horse owned by HRH Duke of Cumberland
8. PATRIOT, chestnut horse owned by Mr Wentworth
9. DUPE, bay mare owned by Sir John Moore
10. HAVANNA, bay horse owned by the Duke of Grafton
11. VAMPIRE, bay horse owned by the Duke of Bridgewater |