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 1772

Wednesday 13th May 1772
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. MILLINER (7/4 fav), bay filly owned by Mr Richard Vernon
2. ZAMORA, bay colt owned by Duke of Grafton
3. LADY BELL, chestnut filly owned by Mr Fenwick
4. COCKSPUR (4/1), bay colt owned by Mr C Blake
5. GERTRUDE (5/1), bay filly owned by Lord Bolingbroke
6. SMALLHOPES, bay colt owned by Sir Charles Bunbury
7. PROPHETESS, roan filly owned by Sir John Moore
8. PEEPING TOM, chestnut colt owned by Lord Craven
9. BENVENUTO, chestnut colt owned by Lord March
10. ULYSSES, bay colt owned by Lord Rockingham
11. CLEVER, bay colt owned by Mr Ward
12. FLORA, bay filly owned by Lord Orford
13. WOODBINE, bay colt owned by Lord Clermont

Thursday 14th May 1772
Second Subscription Purse of 100 Guineas, over the Beacon Course, for horses the property of Jockey Club Members, each horse to carry 8st 7lbs
1. TRENTHAM (evens fav), bay horse owned by Mr Foley
2. DENMARK, bay horse owned by Mr Ogilvy
3. AMARANTHUS (4/1), bay horse owned by Mr Barry
4. HOLY HOCK, bay horse owned by Lord Rockingham
5. CHATSWORTH (10/1), bay horse owned by Mr Wentworth
6. LAURA (3/1), bay mare owned by Lord Ossory
7. CATALINE, bay horse owned by Lord March

Tuesday 29th September 1772
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. CIRCE (1/2 fav) bay filly owned by Lord Ossory
2. ALBORACK, chestnut colt owned by Lord Grosvenor
POMPEY, owned by HRH Duke of Cumberland entered but did not run