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 Lord Exeter with Stockwell, a 5-y-o by The Baron, who beat one other in October 1854

Wednesday 17th May 1854
Subscription Purse of 50 Guineas, over the Beacon Course, for horses the property of Jockey Club Members, for 4-y-o and upwards
1. POODLE (3/1) owned by Lord Clifden and ridden by Nat Flatman
2. RACKAPELT owned by Captain Lowther and ridden by S Steggles
3. KHADIDJAH (4/5 fav) owned by Mr Batson and ridden by Sly
4. DIOMEDIA owned by Duke of Bedford and ridden by Esling

JOCKEY CLUB NEWMARKET CHALLENGE CUP was not contested in 1854