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 May 1786
Newmarket Challenge Whip over the Beacon Course 10st each
1. DUNGANNON (4/5 fav), bay horse owned by Mr O'Kelly
2. DRONE, bay horse owned by Mr Wyndham
3. ANVIL, bay horse owned by HRH Prince of Wales

Wednesday 17th May 1786
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. OBERON (5/2 jt fav), bay colt owned by Duke of Grafton
2. LEPICQ (4/1), bay colt owned by Sir F Standish
3. VULCAN, bay colt owned by Lord Grosvenor
4. SMITH, chestnut colt owned by Mr Maynard
5. COWSLIP (5/2 jt fav), bay filly owned by Mr Wentworth
6. LUNARDI, bay horse owned by Mr Bullock

Thursday 18th May 1786
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. DRONE (6/4), bay horse owned by Mr Wyndham
2. ANVIL (6/5 fav), bay horse owned by HRH Prince of Wales
3. LATONA (10/1), bay mare owned by Lord Grosvenor
4. GLANCER (8/1), bay horse owned by Mr Wentworth

JOCKEY CLUB NEWMARKET CHALLENGE CUP was not contested in 1786