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 contested in 1776

Wednesday 1st May 1776
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. PLANET (4/1), bay colt owned by Lord Ossory
2. GLOW-WORM (4/6 fav), bay colt owned by Mr Brand
3. THETFORD, grey colt owned by Mr Gascoyne
4. TWOPENNY (3/1), grey colt owned by Sir John Moore
5. COLUMBINE, chestnut filly owned by Mr G Hanger
6. LIME, bay colt owned by Lord Clermont
7. MACKHEATH, bay colt owned by Lord Farnham

Thursday 2nd May 1776
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 (1/3 fav), brown horse owned by Sir Charles Sedley
2. CINCINNATUS, bay horse owned by Lord Rockingham
3. GAY, chestnut horse owned by Duke of Richmond
4. ANTIPAS, bay horse owned by Mr Walker
5. ALEXIS, chestnut horse owned by Sir Charles Bunbury

The 1776 JOCKEY CLUB NEWMARKET CHALLENGE CUP was not contested