A pivotal moment in horse racing history, and in the history of Newmarket, occurred in 1665 when, on 16th October 1665, King Charles II issued an Article for a race, the Newmarket Town Plate, for horses carrying 12 stone over the Newmarket Round Course on the second Thursday in October each year. Although there was no Jockey Club at this stage, this is one of the first sets of rules governing a race in Newmarket. It is clear that, at this point in time, there is a Clerk of the Course, a Clerk of the Race, a Treasurer, many Judges, one of whom is responsible for checking the weights of riders.

Thursday 17th October 1751
Town Plate for aged horses carrying 12 stone
ARTHUR OF BRADLEY, by Robinson Crusoe, owned by Mr Bradley walked over
Evidence from 1751 Racing Calendar and Baily’s Racing Register Volume 1

Thursday 12th October 1752
Town Plate for aged horses carrying 12 stone
1. SCURRY, grey gelding owned by Mr Josiah Marshall
2. CHUBB, bay horse owned by Mr Percival
Evidence from 1752 Racing Calendar and Baily’s Racing Register Volume 1

Tuesday 9th October 1753
Town Plate for aged horses carrying 12 stone
Unnamed chestnut mare owned by Mr Charles Meridith walked over
Evidence from 1753 Racing Calendar

Thursday 10th October 1754
Town Plate for aged horses carrying 12 stone
1. TRUE BRITON, black gelding owned by Mr Stamford and ridden by Mr Tookie
2. POMPEY, chestnut horse owned by Mr Josiah Marshal
Evidence from 1754 Racing Calendar and Baily’s Racing Register Volume 1

Thursday 9th October 1755
Town Plate for aged horses carrying 12 stone
SOLDIER, chestnut horse owned by Mr Stamford walked over
Evidence from 1755 Racing Calendar

Thursday 14th October 1756

Thursday 14th October 1756
Town Plate for aged horses carrying 12 stone
1. SOLDIER, chestnut horse owned by Mr Stamford and ridden by Mr Tookie
2. MIDAS, aged chestnut horse owned by Mr Meridith
Evidence from 1756 Racing Calendar and Baily’s Racing Register Volume 1

Thursday 13th October 1757
Town Plate for aged horses carrying 12 stone
1. SOLDIER, Chestnut horse owned by Mr Stamford and ridden by Mr Tookie
2. ALFRED, aged bay horse owned by Lord March
Evidence from 1757 Racing Calendar and Baily’s Racing Register Volume 1

Thursday 11th October 1759
Town Plate for aged horses carrying 12 stone
FOXHUNTER, chestnut horse owned by Mr Tuting walked over
Evidence from 1759 Racing Calendar and Baily’s Racing Register Volume 1

Thursday 9th October 1760
Town Plate for aged horses carrying 12 stone
FOXHUNTER, chestnut horse owned by Mr Tuting walked over
Evidence from 1760 Racing Calendar and Baily’s Racing Register Volume 1

Thursday 8th October 1761
Town Plate for aged horses carrying 12 stone
1. PHOENIX, bay gelding owned by Mr Broady and ridden by Stephen Isaacson
2. Unnamed brown horse owned by Mr Stamford
Evidence from 1761 Racing Calendar and Baily’s Racing Register Volume 1

Thursday 14th October 1762
Town Plate for aged horses carrying 12 stone
1. PHOENIX, bay gelding owned by Mr Smith
2. Unnamed bay horse owned by Mr Crane
Evidence from 1762 Racing Calendar and Baily’s Racing Register Volume 1

Thursday 13th October 1763
Town Plate for aged horses carrying 12 stone
1. SIMON, chestnut gelding owned by Mr Tuting and ridden by Mr Edmonson
2. RIB, bay horse owned by Mr Stamford
Evidence from 1763 Racing Calendar and Baily’s Racing Register Volume 1

Thursday 11th October 1764
Town Plate for aged horses carrying 12 stone
DIANA, bay mare owned by Mr Josiah Marshall
Evidence from 1764 Racing Calendar and Baily’s Racing Register Volume 1

Thursday 10th October 1765
Town Plate for aged horses carrying 12 stone
1. HAZARD, bay horse owned by Mr Humphrey
2. GOODWOOD, bay horse owned by Mr Adam
Evidence from 1765 Racing Calendar and Baily’s Racing Register Volume 1

Thursday 9th October 1766
Town Plate for aged horses carrying 12 stone
HAZARD, bay horse owned by Mr Bullock
Evidence from 1766 Racing Calendar

Thursday 8th October 1767
Town Plate for aged horses carrying 12 stone
HODGE, bay gelding owned by Mr Stamford walked over
Evidence from 1767 Racing Calendar

Thursday 13th October 1768
Town Plate for aged horses carrying 12 stone
1. MESSALINA, bay mare owned by Mr Chapman and ridden by Ralph Buckle
2. PROXY, bay gelding owned by Mr Edmunson and ridden by Dr Sandiver
Evidence from 1768 Racing Calendar and Baily’s Racing Register Volume 1

Thursday 12th October 1769
Town Plate for aged horses carrying 12 stone
CALLIOPE, chestnut mare owned and ridden by Mr Samuel Buckle walked over
Evidence from 1769 Racing Calendar

Thursday 11th October 1770
Town Plate for aged horses carrying 12 stone
1. BLACKJACK, black horse owned by Mr Edmunson and ridden by Ralph Buckle
2. Unnamed bay mare owned by Mr Brewster
Evidence from 1770 Racing Calendar

Thursday 10th October 1771
Town Plate for aged horses carrying 12 stone
RIPLING owned by Mr Edmunson and ridden by Ralph Buckle walked over
Evidence from 1771 Racing Calendar

Thursday 8th October 1772
Town Plate for aged horses carrying 12 stone
Winner was a horse with initials RH owned by Mr R Prince and ridden by Joseph Leech beating one other
Evidence from Newmarket Match Book

Thursday 14th October 1773
Town Plate for aged horses carrying 12 stone
SUFFOLK, owned by Mr James Brewster and ridden by Ralph Buckle
Evidence from Newmarket Match Book

Thursday 13th October 1774
Town Plate for aged horses carrying 12 stone
Young Hyder owned by Mr Smallman and ridden by Ralph Buckle beat one other
Evidence from Newmarket Match Book

Thursday 12th October 1775
Town Plate for aged horses carrying 12 stone
FANNY owned by Mr Waters and ridden by James Baddison (walked over)
Evidence from Newmarket Match Book