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. In 1768 the inaugural running of the Jockey Club Newmarket Challenge Cup , designed by Abraham Portal, took place over the Beacon Course and was restricted to Jockey Club Members. The 4 races provide vital evidence confirming membership of the Jockey Club.

Newmarket Challenge Whip over the Beacon Course 10st each was not staged in 1769

Tuesday 18th April 1769
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. HOLY HOCK (6/4 fav), bay colt owned by Lord Bolingbroke
2. SULTANA, bay filly owned by Duke of Northumberland
3. HECATE (5/1). Brown filly owned by Mr Jenison Shafto
4. CORTEZ, black colt owned by Lord Ossory
5. GOBLIN, bay colt owned by Duke of Grafton
6. BLANK, brown colt owned by Duke of Bridgewater
7. GRASSHOPPER, bay filly owned by Lord Grosvenor
8. LUTESTRING, bay filly owned by Mr Vernon
9. PORTIA, bay filly owned by Lord Orford
10. SUGAR CANE (4/1), bay colt owned by Mr P Blake
11. ALCHYMIST, chestnut colt owned by Mr Pigot
12. YOUNG CADE colt owned by Mr Meynell
13. CLOTHO, brown filly owned by Duke of Kingston
14. PEDRO (8/1), grey colt owned by Lord Farnham
15. EOLUS, chestnut colt owned by Mr Burlton

Thursday 20th April 1769
Second Subscription Purse of 100 Guineas, over the Beacon Course, for horses the property of Jockey Club Members, each horse to carry 9st
1. CARDINAL PUFF (2/1 jt fav), grey horse owned by Lord Grosvenor
2. PETRUCHIO (3/1), bay horse owned by Mr Jenison Shafto
3. CONUNDRUM (10/1), bay horse owned by Mr Pigot
4. ASKHAM (2/1 jt fav), brown horse owned by Sir James Lowther

Tuesday 3rd October 1769
JOCKEY CLUB NEWMARKET CHALLENGE CUP
A Sweepstake of 200 Guineas each, Play or Pay, run over the Beacon Course with weights as prescribed at the Jockey Club Meeting on 5th October 1768
1. GOLDFINDER, brown horse owned by Mr Jenison Shafto
2. JETHRO, bay horse owned by Duke of Ancaster
3. BELLARIO, bay horse owned by Sir Charles Bunbury
4. MARQUIS, bay horse owned by Mr Richard Vernon
5. A LA GREQUE, chestnut mare owned by Sir Lawrence Dundas
6. COSMO, brown horse owned by Marquess of Rockingham
The horses listed below were also in the Sweepstake but did not start
HALKIN, bay colt owned by Lord Richard Grosvenor
LEADER, bay gelding owned by Mr P Blake
SEJANUS, bay horse owned by Lord Bolingbroke
THUMPER, bay horse owned by Lord Barrymore