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 9th October 1926 (261st running)

Click the link for a clip of the 261st running of the Town Plate in 1926
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9qHCf8nS-0

Thursday 9th October 1926 (261st renewal)

Town Plate over the Round Course

Stephania (2/1) 3-y-o owned by Mr H A Armitage, trained by Walter Griggs and ridden by Miss Iris Rickaby

Hogier (6/4 fav) owned by Mrs Walter Earl, trained by Walter Earl and ridden by Miss Eileen Joel

Rory O'Neil (8/1) ridden by Mr H B Nixon

Avenue Bold (10/1) ridden by Miss Vaughan

Compliment (6/1) ridden by Mr Frank Simpson

The winner won by 4 lengths

Miss Iris Rickaby, 21 year old sister-in-law to Walter Griggs, rides out for him when she is in Newmarket. Her horse was backed from 6/1 to 2/1 second favourite and, along with Hogier, dominated the race at the front before getting the upper hand to win by 4 lengths.The winning owner and jockey were presented with silver cups by Mrs Lambton, while the trainer received a silver salt cellar.

Thursday 12th October 1927 (262nd running)

Click the link for a clip of the 262nd running of the Town Plate in 1927
https://www.britishpathe.com/video/262nd-race-for-the-town/query/newmarket+town+plate

Thursday 12th October 1927 (262nd renewal)

Town Plate over the New Round Course on the July Course

Fair Toy (3/1) owned and ridden by Miss D Saunders

Happy Greetings (4/5 fav) owned by Major Ratcliffe and ridden by Miss Iris Rickaby

Hogier (6/4) owned by Mrs Walter Earl, trained by Walter Earl and ridden by Miss Eileen Joel

Fair Toy, who is hunted with the South Berks twice a week, made all and won by a distance.

Thursday 11th October 1928 (263rd running)

Click the link for a clip of the 263rd running of the Town Plate in 1928
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5QGT3D65eUI

Thursday 11th October 1928 (263rd renewal)

Town Plate over the New Round Course

Bogus (7/1) owned and trained by Walter Griggs and ridden by Miss Iris Rickaby

Duc De Guise (4/1) ridden by Mrs Arthur Heald

Loyal Scot (8/1) ridden by Mr Frank Simpson

Peacemaker II ridden by miss Eileen Joel

Fair Toy owned and ridden by Miss D Saunders

Heath Fire ridden by Mr Harold Fenn

The winner won by 1 1/4 lengths but immediately after the race Mr Solly Joel, owner of Peacemaker II and father of Miss Eileen Joel, objected that under the terms of the race a second heat had to be run if the winner of the first heat had not distanced the others. In the interests of sportsmanship he withdrew his objection a short while later.

Thursday 10th October 1929 (264th running)

Click the link for a clip of the 264th running of the Town Plate in 1929
https://www.britishpathe.com/video/264th-race-for-town-plate

Thursday 10th October 1929 (264th renewal)

Town Plate over the New Round Course

Fairy Water (10/1) owned by Mr R W Colling and ridden by Mr Frank Simpson

Grittenham (3/1) owned by Mr John Bell and ridden by Miss Audrey Bell

Lady Eloi (5/1) owned by Mrs T E Galletly and ridden by Miss Madge Hamshaw

Indelible (2/1 fav) owned by Mr J White and ridden by Mr H S White

Miss Wilful (10/1) ridden by Miss Eileen Joel

Fay Toy (3/1) owned by Mr F D Saunders and ridden by Miss D Saunders

In one of the closest finishes ever in this historic race, run for more than 250 years, the veteran rider and many times winning jockey Mr Frank Simpson, manager of the Electric Light Company, got up on the line to win by a short head. Rounding Plantation Corner it looked as though the issue rested between Miss Bell and Miss Hamshaw, Miss Bell getting the upper hand on her 16-year-old rival, but both were overhauled by Fairy Water in the shadow of the winning post. Cups were presented to the winning owner and jockey by Mrs H E Morris of Banstead Manor. Miss Iris Rickaby, winner of the race in 1926 and 1928, was not able to compete this year as she was still on honeymoon after becoming Mrs Keith Piggott.

Thursday 9th October 1930 (265th renewal)

Town Plate over the New Round Course on the July Course

Old Dromore (2/1) ridden by Mr Frank A Simpson

Telescripter (5/2) owned by Lady Doris Vyner and ridden by Miss Madge Hamshaw

Golden Boy (6/1) owned by Mr John Bell and ridden by Miss Audrey Bell

Green Fire (6/1) owned by Mr Solly Joel and ridden by Miss Eileen Joel

Beauty (10/1) ridden by Miss Winifred Ortweiler

Grade A (10/1) ridden by Mr Harold Fenn

The winner won by 14 lengths with a distance back to the third. Winning jockey Frank Simpson, winner of the race on 16 occasions, was scathing about women riders saying that they will never make good jockeys. 'They have not an earthly chance, in the first place, they cannot stand the strain, but apart from that, there is not a woman in a thousand who can sit a horse for racing purposes. No, we shall never see a woman win any of the great Classic races in my lifetime'. Whilst he was correct in claiming tha no woman would win a Classic in his lifetime, ultimately his statement would prove to be so wrong.

Thursday 8th October 1931 (266th running)

Thursday 8th October 1931 (266th renewal)

Town Plate over July Round Course

Bogus (4/1) owned and trained by Walter Griggs and ridden by Mr Frank A Simpson

Journey's End (4/1) owned by Mr W J Waldron and ridden by Miss Gladys Waldron

Spear Bay (5/2 jt fav) owned by Mr W Collings and ridden by Miss Audrey Bell

Noble Six (5/2 jt fav) owned by Mrs S Mercer and ridden by Mr O Bolero

Nancy (10/1) owned by Mr Barleyman and ridden by Miss S Ketteridge

Norman Duchess (10/1) owned by Mr P Ellinson and ridden by Miss Madge Hamshaw

Crab Apple II (10/1) owned by the Equestrian Club and ridden by Mr Wragg

The winner, ridden by Mr Frank Simpson on his 17th Town Plate winner, won by 2 lengths with 10 lengths back to the third.

Thursday 13th October 1932 (267th running)

Click the link for a clip of the 267th running of the Town Plate in 1932
https://www.britishpathe.com/video/267th-race-for-the-town-plate/query/newmarket+town+plate

The photo above shows Audrey Bell cycling home with her Town Plate trophy, escorted by a policeman, and is part of the Peter Norman Photo Collection.

Thursday 13th October 1932 (267th renewal)

Town Plate over the July Round Course

Mr Bertram (5/1) owned by Mrs Shafto and ridden by Miss Audrey Bell

Bogus (6/4 fav) owned by Mr Walter Griggs and ridden by Mr Frank Simpson

Journey's End (5/1) owned by Mr W J Waldron and ridden by Miss Gladys Waldron

The General owned by Mr Otto Madden and ridden by Miss Nancy Madden

Propeller II owned and ridden by Mrs Arthur Heald

Calibre owned by Mr A B Briscoe and ridden by Miss Madge Hamshaw

Transelton owned and ridden by Miss Goodall

Huncourt owned and ridden by Miss Nash

The Niche owned by Mr W Heath and ridden by Mr Ward

Royal Warden owned by Miss Dunn-Gardner and ridden by Mr M Everitt

Crusader's Star owned and ridden by Mr J J Hislop

The winner won by 3/4 length, with 20 lengths back to the third. In keeping with tradition, and honouring the original rules as laid down by King Charles II in 1665, Mr Frank Simpson was given the option to run a second heat the reverse direction on the Round Course but declined the offer.

Thursday 11th October 1933 (268th running)

Click the link for a clip of the 268th running of the Town Plate in 1933
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0JQMeyHs6Ss

Thursday 11th October 1933 (268th renewal)

Town Plate over the July Round Course

Journey's End (3/1) owned by Mr W Waldron and ridden by Miss Gladys Waldron

Monsieur Neuf (9/2) owned by Mr W Wales and ridden by Miss Audrey Bell

Prince Regent (5/2 fav) owned by Mr H Smythe and ridden by Miss Madge Hanshaw

Dixie (6/1) owned by Mr A B Briscoe and ridden by Miss Clover

Front Rank (6/1) ridden by Mrs Arthur Heald

Kildonan (7/2) ridden by Mr Frank Simpson

The winner won by 5 lengths with a distance back to the third. It was a double celebration for Gladys Waldron as only the night before she had been adopted as the Conservative and National candidate for the impending East Fulham by-election.

Thursday 11th October 1934 (269th running)

Click the link for a clip of the 269th running of the Town Plate in 1934
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJ6t1dMa6fY

Thursday 11th October 1934 (269th renewal)

Town Plate over the July Round Course

Ravioli (evens fav) owned by Mr John Bell and ridden by Miss Audrey Bell

Saint Gall (5/2) owned by Mr A B Holland and ridden by Miss Madge Hamshaw

Faithful (8/1) owned and ridden by Miss V Dalton-White

Breezy owned by Mr Hanson and ridden by Miss Hilda Campbell-Russell

Beau Brocade owned and ridden by Mr E Wardrop

Vagabond Queen owned by Mr R Mead and ridden by Mrs Bertha Verrall

The winner won by 2 lengths with a distance back to the third

Thursday 9th October 1935 (270th renewal)

Town Plate over the Round Course starting and finishing at the July Stands

Lady Gold (3/1) owned by Mr John Bell and ridden by Miss Audrey Bell

Bendennis (6/1) owned and ridden by Miss Bobby Nicholson

Primitive (10/1) owned and ridden by Mrs Bertha Verrall

Bendigo owned and ridden by Mr H M V Clark

Dandy owned by Miss M Hammond and ridden by Mr Frank Simpson

Town Plan owned by Mr John Bell and ridden by Miss Madge Hamshaw

Silver Ware owned by Mr L A Colville and ridden by Miss Barbara Beere

Erain (fell) owned by Miss T Jarvis and ridden by Miss G Carlow

Wait a Minute (fell) owned and ridden by Mr E Wardrope

The winner won by a distance, with 2 lengths between second and third. Unusually, 2 horses, Erain and Wait a Minute, both fell.

Thursday 8th October 1936 (271st renewal)

Town Plate over July Round Course

Jimmy's Pet (6/4 fav) owned and trained by Peter Thrale and ridden by Miss Thrale

Eastern Loveliness owned and ridden by Miss P Monckton

Caliph of Baghdad owned by Mr John Bell and ridden by Miss Audrey Bell

Primitive owned and ridden by Mrs Bertha Verrall

Wily Bird owned and ridden by Miss Bobby Nicholson

Grey Warrior owned by Mr W Johnson and ridden by Mr L Covell

Leonore ridden by Miss Orr

In a close finish the winner won by a head with 10 lengths back to the third. After the race the prizes were presented by Mrs Joel, wife of MP Dudley Joel of Moulton Paddocks. The Prize fund was boosted by a donation of £9 2s from Plate Land owned by Mr D Malcolm Scott, £1 of which went to the Clerk of the Course, 13s 4d to the St Mary's Church Bread and Beef fund and 6s 8d to the All Saints Church Poor Fund. Each entrant had to pay £3 which went to the winner meaning Jimmy's Pet earned a total of £28 2s.

Thursday 14th October 1937 (272nd renewal)

Town Plate over the July Round Course

Jimmy's Pet (evens fav) owned by Peter Thrale and ridden by Miss Thrale

Master of Fate (7/2) owned by Mr John Bell and ridden by Miss Audrey Bell

San Prix (9/2) owned and ridden by Mrs J E Bott

Struan (100/7) owned and ridden by Miss M Orr

Pegomond (100/7) owned by Mr A Norman and ridden by Mr D Norman

Diogenes (3/1) owned by Miss J Clayton and ridden by Miss Angela Earl

Porker (10/1) owned by Mr C Horman and ridden by Mr C Horman

Ever Willing (100/7) owned and ridden by Mr E Wardrop

Lotage (100/7) owned and ridden by Mrs Bertha Verrall

Claran (100/7) owned by Mr L Coville and ridden by Miss B A Beere

Foxflair (100/7) owned and ridden by Miss Bowskill

The winner won by a comfortable 10 lengths, with 10 lengths between second and third

Thursday 11th October 1938 (273rd running)

Click the link for a clip of the 273rd running of the Town Plate in 1938
https://www.britishpathe.com/video/new-market-town-plate-aka-newmarket-town-plate/query/newmarket+town+plate

Thursday 11th October 1938 (273rd renewal)

Town Plate over the July Round Course

Lucky Patch (evens fav) owned by Mr N E Dixon, trained by Mr S Mercer and ridden by Mrs S Langley

Rodriguez (100/8) owned by Mr J Goldsmith and ridden by Miss Clover

Early Rising (10/1) owned by Mrs P Beary and ridden by Mrs M Beary

Guest (100/8) ridden by Miss V Bullock

Apelles (100/8) ridden by Mrs L A Cavell

Highcroft (10/1) ridden by Miss N Winterbottom

Canonisation (5/1) ridden by Miss J Croxen

Old Flame (100/8) ridden by Miss Bargh

Active Ann (100/8) ridden by Hon Mrs Jackson

Derring Do (100/8) ridden by Miss F Curtis

Hans Sachs (8/1) ridden by Miss Hamwick

Bill Spangler (100/8) ridden by Mrs Turton

That the winner would be partnered by a lady was never in doubt because, for the first time, a large field of 12 runners was each ridden by a lady jockey. The winning jockey, Mrs S Langley, is the second of 3 daughters of Newmarket trainer Walter Earl, winning the race by an easy 10 lengths, with 10 lengths back to the third.

Thursday 11th October 1939 (274th running)

Click the link for a clip of the 274th running of the Town Plate in 1939
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yaiU23BDeGM

Thursday 11th October 1939 (274th renewal)

Town Plate over the July Round Course

Contrevent (4/5 fav) owned by Mr Middlemass and ridden by Miss V Bullock

Roanoke (4/1) owned by Lord Derby and ridden by Miss Angela Earl

Mont Rouge (10/1) owned by Mr John Bell and ridden by Miss Audrey Bell

Miss Romance (20/1) owned by Mr J Woods and ridden by Mrs Bertha Verrall

Coe Libs (20/1) owned and ridden by Mr J Barker

Simple Simon (20/1) owned by Mr R taylor and ridden by Lady Mary Fitzroy

Luck Patch (3/1) owned by Mr N E Nixon and ridden by Mrs S Langley

Righteous Rebel (20/1) owned by Mr R Briscoe and ridden by Miss Bobby Nicholson

Enstone (100/7) owned and ridden by Miss N Picken

This was a high class race with the winner, Contrevent, already a course winner having landed the Cesarewitch last year. Despite his obvious class, and the fact that he was odds on favourite, he only scrambled home by a head, with 6 lengths back to third.

Race was not run for 5 years due to the Second World War.

Thursday 10th October 1945 (275th renewal)

Town Plate over the Round Course

Long Grove (4/5 fav) owned by Mr H J Hawes and ridden by Mr C Smith

Sandy Abbot (3/1) owned by Mr John Bell and ridden by Miss Audrey Bell

Archie (4/1) owned and ridden by Miss Sybil Lambton

Shell Transport (6/1) ridden by Mr M Lawton

Hill Station (10/1) owned by Mrs C Cowell and ridden by Mr Frank Simpson

The winning owner, Mr Hawes, is the Newmarket pork sausage butcher who, in 1942, won £50 at the Newmarket July races and went to the sales where he bought a mare, fair Maiden, for 60 guineas. A year later he sold the mare, for 620 guineas and its foal for 2600 Guineas. The winning rider, C Smith, is the elder brother of jockeys Doug and Eph Smith. Frank Simpson, 75-years-old, rider of 17 Town Plate winners, was last on Hill Station.

Thursday 10th October 1946 (277th renewal)

Town Plate over the Round Course

Pongo (evens fav) trained by H Smyth and ridden by Miss M McGrath

Fruit Cup (2/1) ridden by Mrs L A Coville

Whistler (100/7) ridden by Mrs B Crutchley

Stoleaway (5/1) ridden by Mr F Brackett

Neyvalme (100/6) trained by Mr John Bell and ridden by Miss Audrey Bell

The winner won by 8 lengths, with 20 lengths between second and third. After the race the 17-year-old Irish schoolgirl, Miss M McGrath was presented with a riding whip and sausages, while trainer H Smyth received a trophy.

Thursday 9th October 1947 (277th renewal)

Town Plate over the Round Course

Birdforth (evens fav) ridden by Lady Mary Rose Williams

Spinaker (10/1) ridden by Miss A Gibson

Hyland (10/1) ridden by Mrs Kent

Riskit ridden by Miss Marion Day

Glentilt ridden by Miss D Saunders

DDT ridden by Miss Pamela Fry

Amber ridden by Miss Madge Pringle

Flight of Grebe ridden by Miss V Machin-Goodal

Birdforth won by a distance with 4 lengths between second and third.

Lady Mary Rose Fitzroy was a descendant of King Charles II, founder of the Newmarket Town Plate, as she was the granddaughter of the 8th Duke of Grafton, and sister of the 9th Duke who was killed while competing in the Limerick International Grand Prix in 1936. The 1st Duke of Grafton was a son of King Charles II.

Thursday 14th October 1948 (278th renewal)

Town Plate over the Round Course

Filius (2/1) trained by Dick Perryman,owned and ridden by Miss Sonia Joel

Baker (7/1) owned and trained by Mr J A Waugh and ridden by Miss P A Waugh

Red Thorn (1/2 fav) trained at Phoenix Park by M A Byrne and ridden by Miss Marie Malone

Also ran:: Pay Cash (8/1), Glen Tilt (10/1), Sapper (4/1), Carew's Choice (10/1), Edna's Pride (10/1), Pride of Avon II (10/1)

After the race Lady Quilter presented Sonia Joel with a riding whip and sausages, and a whip to trainer Dick Perryman.

Thursday 10th October 1949 (279th renewal)

Town Plate over the Round Course

Prince Peridarchus (3/1) owned by Mr E G Lambton and ridden by Miss Sybil Lambton

Hollywood Laddie (7/1) ridden by Miss Jacky Hylton

Festival (7/2) owned by Mrs Rogerson and ridden by Miss Valda Rogerson

Bula Boda ridden by Mrs Zilliah Mitchell

The winner won by 15 lengths with 4 lengths between second and third, and 13 ran

After the race Hon Mrs George Lambton presented her son, the owner of Prince Peridarchus, and her daughter, Sybil Lambton, with racing whips as mememtoes

Thursday 12th October 1950 (280th renewal)

Town Plate over the Round Course

School Treat (5/4 fav) owned by Charles Walker, trained by C Pratt and ridden by Miss Ann Waugh

Festival (4/1) ridden by Miss Valda Rogerson

Monty IV (10/1) ridden by Miss O Miles

Limeboy ridden by Miss Jacqueline Hylton

The winner won by 10 lengths, with 2 lengths between second and third, and 11 ran.