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.

Thursday 19th April 1770
Newmarket Challenge Whip over the Beacon Course 10st each
1. GIMCRACK, grey horse owned by Lord Grosvenor
2. PILGRIM, black horse owned by Lord Rockingham

Tuesday 8th May 1770
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. PAYMASTER (1/5 fav), bay colt owned by Lord Bolingbroke
2. BELLINA, bay filly owned by Lord March
3. RAMJAM (3/1), bay colt owned by the Marquis of Rockingham
4. PORTIUS, chestnut colt owned by Mr Ottley
5. HARPY, brown filly owned by Mr Jenison Shafto
6. CRITO, chestnut colt owned by Duke of Kingston
7. JESUIT, brown colt owned by Lord Ossory

Thursday 10th May 1770
Second Subscription Purse of 100 Guineas, over the Beacon Course, for horses the property of Jockey Club Members, each horse to carry 9st
1. BELLARIO (4/1), bay horse owned by Sir Charles Bunbury
2. NABOB (3/1), black horse owned by Mr Fettiplace
3. BASHFUL (7/1), bay horse owned by Duke of Grafton
4. SNIPE (10/1), bay horse owned by Mr Blake
5. GIMCRACK (5/4 fav), grey horse owned by Lord Grosvenor

Tuesday 2nd October 1770
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 walked over