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 was not contested in 1771

Tuesday 23rd April 1771
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. QUILL, bay colt owned by Mr Blake
2. PYRRHUS, bay colt owned by Mr Richard Vernon
3. CARELESS colt, chestnut owned by Sir Charles Sedley
4. SEAPOY, bay colt owned by Duke of Kingston
5. MATCH'EM colt, chestnut owned by Lord Grosvenor
6. SUFFOLK, bay colt owned by Lord Clermont
7. GLASGOW, bay colt owned by Mr Wentworth
8. DRUMMER, bay colt owned by Mr March
9. MITTIMUS, bay colt owned by Mr Jenison Shafto
10. SPOON, bay colt owned by Lord Ossory
11. ACE OF DIAMONDS, bay colt owned by Lord Orford
It was reported that Mr Blake won over £10,000 in bets on Quill.

Thursday 25th April 1771
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, bay horse owned by Sir Charles Bunbury
2. TIBERIUS, bay horse owned by Lord Grosvenor
3. BUCEPHALUS, bay horse owned by Lord Farnham
4. FANNY, bay mare owned by Lord Clermont
5. FABIUS, bay horse owned by Lord Ossory
6. MELPOMENE, bay horse owned by Mr Wentworth
7. PHOENIX, bay horse owned by Mr Pratt
8. ROSETTH, bay horse owned by Lord March

Tuesday 1st October 1771
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. JUNIPER, bay colt owned by Duke of Cumberland
2. PANTALOON, bay horse owned by Mr Richard Vernon
3. ZEPHYR, bay horse owned by Lord Ossory
4. PAYMASTER, bay horse owned by Lord Craven
5. HYDER ALLY, bay horse owned by Mr C Blake
The following paid their stakes but did not take part, Lord Bolingbroke, Mr Pigot, Mr Ogilvy