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.

Newmarket Challenge Whip over the Beacon Course was not contested in 1766

Tuesday 22nd April 1766
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. TWINGE, bay colt owned by the Duke of Ancaster
2. COUNT (6/4 jt fav), bay colt owned by Lord Bolingbroke
3. AETCEON (6/4 jt fav), roan colt owned by Lord Northumberland
4. HERMES, brown colt owned by Mr Jenison Shafto
5. MYSTLEY, grey colt owned by Sir John Moore
6. GAMMEDA, bay colt owned by Sir Charles Bunbury
7. Bay colt owned by Lord Grosvenor
8. TURNPIKE, grey colt owned by Lord March
9. Bay filly owned by Lord Gower

Thursday 24th April 1766
Second Subscription Purse of 100 Guineas, over the Beacon Course, for horses the property of Jockey Club Members, each horse to carry 9st
1. FLYFAX, grey horse owned by Mr Jenison Shafto
2. NARCISSUS, chestnut horse owned by Lord Northumberland
3. PROXY, bay horse owned by the Duke of Ancaster
4. TOM TINKER, grey horse owned by Lord Rockingham
5. ROCKET, grey horse owned by Mr Meynell