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 10th October 1901 (236th renewal)
Town Plate over the July Course
PRESTONFIELD owned by Mr Waugh and ridden by Mr T Waugh walked over
Thursday 9th October 1902
Town Plate for aged horses carrying 12 stone
PRESTONFIELD, owned by Mr James Waugh and ridden by Mr Frank Simpson
Thursday 8th October 1903
Town Plate for aged horses carrying 12 stone
PRESTONFIELD, owned by Mr James Waugh and ridden by Mr Frank Simpson
Thursday 13th October 1904
Town Plate for aged horses carrying 12 stone
PRESTONFIELD, owned by Mr James Waugh and ridden by Mr Frank Simpson
Thursday 12th October 1905
Town Plate for aged horses carrying 12 stone
PRESTONFIELD, owned by Mr James Waugh and ridden by Mr Frank Simpson
Thursday 11th October 1906 (241st running)
Thursday 11th October 1906
Town Plate for aged horses carrying 12 stone
PRESTONFIELD, owned by Mr James Waugh and ridden by Mr Frank Simpson
Thursday 10th October 1907 (242nd renewal)
Town Plate over the July Course
Proffer owned by Mr C Archer and ridden by Mr Frank Simpson
Little Flower owned by Mr A White and ridden by Mr C Balls
The winner won by 2 lengths in the first heat and rather easier in the second heat. The Judge and Clerk of the Scales was Mr W C Manning, with Mr F Aldridge as starter.
Thursday 8th October 1908 (243rd renewal)
Town Plate for horses carrying 12st
Proffer owned by Mr C Archer and ridden by Mr Frank Simpson
Pure Boy owned by Mr L Hewitt and ridden by C Stevens
Round the Town owned by Mr W Saxby and ridden by Mr C Balls
A crowd of over 2000 witnessed the race which was started by Mr Bert Manning. Proffer won the heat by a distance meaning a second heat was not required.
Thursday 14th October 1909 (244th renewal)
Town Plate over the July Course
Proffer owned by Mr Charles Archer junior and ridden by Mr Frank Simpson
Thursday 13th October 1910 (245th renewal)
Town Plate over the July Course
Red Gauntlet owned by Mr Howard and ridden by Mr Stevens
Proffer owned by Mr Charles Archer junior and ridden by Mr Frank Simpson
Proffer, winner for the previous 3 years, was comprehensively defeated by 200 yards by Red Gauntlet
Thursday 12th October 1911 (246th renewal)
Town Plate over the July Course
Pansy owned by Mr George Blackwell and ridden by Mr Frank Simpson
3 ran
Formerly the race had been started from the Weighing Post by the Cambridge Gap called Thomond's Post, but it was reported that the race was started and finished at the winning post on the July Course.
Thursday 10th October 1912
Town Plate for horses carrying 12st
Pansy owned by Mr George Blackwell and ridden by Mr Frank Simpson
Granby Lodge, 5-y-o owned by Mr J Aitken and ridden by Mr C W Stevens
Lion, bay gelding owned by Mr Jelliss and ridden by Mr R F Mutton
The race estimated at about 4 miles, was over the July course, starting at the winning post, round the Plantation before going onto the Cesarewitch course until reaching the Bunbury Mile, and then entering the home straight back to the winning post. The winner won by 4 lengths in a time of 9 minutes 19 seconds.
Thursday 9th October 1913 (248th renewal)
Town Plate for horses carrying 12st
Permit owned by Charles Peck and ridden by Charles Stevens
Ginger 3-y-o owned by Mr George Blackwell and ridden by Mr Frank Simpson
Montague Rhodes, aged horse owned by Mr Basil Jarvis and ridden by Mr R E Leach
No second heat was required as the winner won by a distance. The race was witnessed by more than 300 people. The prize fund was interesting, funded as usual from the Plate Land fund to the tune of £9 2s, of which £1 goes to the Clerk of the Course and £1 goes to the 2 Parish churches. The entry fee of £3 per entry also goes to the winner, an additional total of £9. The Plate Land has been purchased by Mr Malcolm Scott and his solicitor has informed the race committee that he will no longer make the usual donation in the future, but Newmarket Urban District Council are confident that under the terms of the original Plate Land, Scott is legally bound to continue the payment.
Thursday 8th October 1914 (249th renewal)
Town Plate over the July Course
Permit owned by Mr Charles Peck and ridden by Mr C W Stevens
St Faith owned by Mr W R Jarvis and ridden by Mr H A Hodgkins
Chanticleer owned by Sir R W Jardine and ridden by Mr Frank Simpson
The winner won by a distance with a further distance back to the third.
Thursday 14th October 1915 (250th renewal)
Town Plate over the July Course (New Round Course)
Yoringal owned by Mr F B Darling and ridden by Mr Frank Simpson
Permit owned by Mr Charles Peck and ridden by Mr W C Stevens
Thursday 12th October 1916
Town Plate for aged horses carrying 12 stone
KINGSWOOD, owned and ridden by Mr Charles Stevens walked over
Thursday 11th October 1917 (252nd renewal)
Town Plate over the New Round Course (July Course)
Green Falcon 6-y-o owned by Mr Robert Standish Sievier and ridden by Mr Charles W Stevens
Le Hier 5-y-o bay gelding owned and ridden by Mr Albert Whalley and ridden by Mr Frank Simpson
This was an exceptional meeting by any standards because the Town Plate was run on the same day as another Newmarket card on a different part of the course. The Town Plate was run at 12 noon, the same time as a race on the other card. Green Falcon won by a comfortable 30 lengths
Thursday 17th October 1918
Town Plate for aged horses carrying 12 stone
TWEEDLEDUM, owned and ridden by Mr Charles Stevens walked over
Thursday 9th October 1919 (254th renewal)
Town Plate over the New Round Course
KARABURUM owned and trained by Mr Walter Griggs and ridden by Mr Frank Simpson walked over
Thursday 14th October 1920 (255th renewal)
Town Plate over the New Round Course
Playhouse, 5-y-o filly owned by Mr Frank Curzon and ridden by Mr Frank Simpson walked over
Thursday 13th October 1921 (256th renewal)
Town Plate over the New Round Course
Cortoza owned by Captain T R Leader and ridden by Mr Frank Simpson walked over
Thursday 12th October 1922 (257th renewal)
Town Plate over the New Round Course
Tishy II owned by Mr E T Waugh and ridden by Mr A P Hammond
Peacock owned by Mr Walter Griggs
October Light owned by Mr Geoffrey Ralling
Thursday 11th October 1923 (258th running)
Click the link for a clip of the 258th running of the Town Plate in 1923
https://www.britishpathe.com/video/girl-jockey-third/query/newmarket+town+plate
Thursday 11th October 1923 (258th renewal)
Town Plate over the New Round Course
Frocked (10/1) owned by W R Jarvis and ridden by C Manning
Tishy II (7/2) owned by R T Waugh and ridden by P Hammond
Pennant (7/4) owned by Felix Leach and ridden by Miss Betty Tanner
Alector (6/1) owned by Walter Griggs and ridden by Harold Fenn
Margreen (6/4 fav) owned by J Ainsworth and ridden by Mr Frank A Simpson
It was an historic race because, for the first time a lady rider, Miss Betty Tanner, was allowed to ride in the race. It was further expected that Miss Iris Rickaby, sister of the late jockey Fred Rickaby, and Miss Marjorie Benson, the famous Film Actress, would also ride in the race but, in the end, they could not find a mount.
Thursday 9th October 1924 (259th running)
Click the link for a clip of the 259th running of the Town Plate in 1924
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42uarp8E1cw
Thursday 9th October 1924 (259th renewal)
Town Plate over the Round Course
Tishy II (5/2) owned by R T Waugh and ridden by P Hammond
Pennant (5/1) owned by Felix Leach and ridden by Mr Frank Simpson
Frocked (6/4 fav) owned by W R Jarvis and ridden by Mr Channing
Jasper (10/1) ridden by Miss Iris Rickaby
Skiatho (10/1) ridden by Mr Drackets
Young Visitor (10/1) ridden by Miss Betty Tanner
With two lady riders engaged, this was an important milestone in the history of the Town Plate, but the race was marred at the start when 5 of the 6 runners did not hear the starter say Go. This enabled Tishy II to be more than 50 yards in front of his rivals as they swept round the first turn. Hammond maintained his lead on the second favourite as they swung into the home straight and he won by a distance, with 10 lengths between second and third.
Thursday 8th October 1925 (260th running)
Click the link for a clip of the 260th running of the Town Plate in 1925
https://www.britishpathe.com/video/the-town-plate
Thursday 8th October 1925 (260th renewal)
Town Plate over the New Round Course
Hogier (5/1) owned by Mrs Walter Earl and ridden by Miss Elieen Joel
Poohbah (8/1) owned by Mr Bennet and ridden by Miss Iris Rickaby
Frocked (3/1) owned by Mr W R Jarvis and ridden by Mr Long
Tishy II (2/1 fav) owned by Lady Jardine and ridden by P Hammond
Cinnadon (3/1) owned by Mr Tom Cannon and ridden by Mr Frank Simpson
Obstruction (8/1) owned by Miss Clayton and ridden by Miss Vaughan
Stella Maris (8/1) owned and ridden by Miss Marshall Magee
Skylark (10/1) owned by Mr Harry Wragg and ridden by Miss Betty Tanner
An historic race with 4 of the 8 runners ridden by ladies who occupied the first 2 places. The winner, ridden by Miss Eileen Joel, who had only recently left school, won by 2 lengths with 4 lengths back to the third.