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 1773

Wednesday 5th May 1773
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. GIANTESS (4/1), bay filly owned by Mr Richard Vernon
2. LANGHAM (2/1 fav), bay colt owned by Sir Charles Bunbury
3. ESPERANCE, chestnut colt owned by Duke of Northumberland
4. DROMO (3/1), chestnut colt owned by Duke of Devonshire
5. TIMON, bay colt owned by Mr Philip Burlton
6. Bay colt owned by Lord Pigot
7. CONTRACTOR, chesnut colt owned by Lord Farnham
8. PENCIL, bay colt owned by Lord Rockingham
9. GRANDEE, chestnut colt owned by Mr Ogilvy
10. ROCKET filly, chestnut owned by Lord March

Thursday 6th May 1773
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. CONDUCTOR (3/1), chestnut horse owned by Lord Farnham
2. REGULATION (evens fav), chestnut horse owned by Sir Charles Sedley
3. STRIPLING (2/1), bay horse owned by Lord Spencer Hamilton
4. HOLLYHOCK (10/1), bay horse owned by Lord Rockingham
5. LAURA, (4/1) chestnut mare owned by Lord Ossory

Tuesday 5th October 1773
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. PUMPKIN (1/3 fav), 4-y-o owned by Mr Foley
2. RANGER (5/2), 5-y-o owned by Mr Strode
3. RARITY (6/1), 4-y-o owned by Lord Grosvenor
FIRETAIL, 4-y-o owned by Mr C Blake and SEMPRONIUS, 4-y-o owned by Lord Farnham were entered but did not run.