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 13th October 1853 (188th renewal)
Town Plate for horses carrying 12st
Chorus 5-y-o owned by Mr S Rogers and ridden by R Gordon
Thursday 12th October 1854 (189th renewal)
Town Plate for horses carrying 12st 2lbs
Alboni aged horse owned by Mr S Rogers and ridden by Mr J Arber
Thursday 11th October 1855 (190th renewal)
Town Plate for horses carrying 12st 2lbs
Triphthong owned by Mr S Rogers and ridden by Mr J Arber
Thursday 13th October 1859 (194th renewal)
Town Plate over the Round Course
Surrender owned by Mr S Rogers and ridden by Mr G Lawrance
Thursday 11th October 1860 (195th renewal)
Town Plate over the Round Course
Wildgrave owned by Mr S Rogers and ridden by Mr G Lawrance 1 1
Tomboy owned by Mr C Green and ridden by Mr Lotan 2 2
Thursday 8th October 1863 (198th renewal)
Town Plate over the Round Course
Tonio owned by Mr A Edwards
5 ran
Thursday 13th October 1864 (199th running)
Thursday 13th October 1864 (199th renewal)
Town Plate over the Round Course
Poetess 3-y-o owned by Mr C Green and ridden by Nat Flatman junior walked over
Thursday 12th October 1865 (200th renewal)
Town Plate over the Round Course
Duke De Guise 5-y-o owned by Mr C Green and ridden by Nat Flatman junior walked over
Thursday 11th October 1866 (201st renewal)
Town Plate on the July Course behind the Ditch
Savannah 5-y-o owned by Mr C Green and ridden by Nat Flatman junior
This race was overseen by a solitary official
Thursday 10th October 1867 (202nd renewal)
Town Plate over the Round Course
Reporter owned by Mr C Green and ridden by Nat Flatman junior
Thursday 8th October 1868 (203rd renewal)
Town Plate over the Round Course
Arkadi 3-y-o owned by Mr T Ashmall and ridden by Mr T Rogers
Chippenham came in first but was disqualified for running the wrong side of a post
Thursday 14th October 1869 (204th renewal)
Town Plate over the Round Course
Thunderbolt filly owned and ridden by Mr S Rogers
St Andrew owned by Mr Walker and ridden by Mr Jeffery
The race was later declared null and void as it was started at 12 noon rather than the appointed 1pm
Thursday 13th October 1870 (205th renewal)
Town Plate over the Round Course
Lincoln Lass 3-y-o owned by Mr Selwood and ridden by C Selwood 1 1
Verity 6-y-o owned by Mr Graham and ridden by Paske 2 dnf
Lincoln Lass won the first heat with ease, while in the second heat Verity tragically broke both of her hind legs during the race and was destroyed on the spot
Thursday 12th October 1871 (206th renewal)
Town Plate over the Round Course
Brown Bess owned by Mr Jarvis and ridden by Mr R Moody
Mr Jarvis was the owner of the Greyhound Hotel