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 challenged by Captain Rous's 5-year-old ST FRANCIS in Spring 1840, but the challenge was not accepted.

Thursday 21st May 1840
Subscription Purse of 50 Guineas, over the Beacon Course, for horses the property of Jockey Club Members, for 4-y-o and upwards
1. FLAMBEAU (1/4 fav) 4-y-o owned by Duke of Rutland and ridden by Nat Flatman
2. BOSPHORUS 4-y-o owned by Lord Exeter

JOCKEY CLUB NEWMARKET CHALLENGE CUP was not contested in 1840