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 11th October 1979
Town Plate for aged horses carrying 12 stone
1. WELTHI, owned by Mrs Barbara Francis, trained by Merrick Francis and ridden by Michael Smith
2. IRISH WRAP ridden by Miss Hilary Jack
3. THORTON FIRE ridden by O Vaughan-Jones
Also TERRY'S CHOICE ridden by Roger Whittle
TAMER trained by Luca Cumani and ridden by Sara Cumani
Dnf OUT OF THE BLUE
Dnf GALA KING ridden by Suzy Holmes
Dnf BLUE RONDO ridden by Miss Janet-Walker
The 1979 Newmarket Town Plate, won by 6-year-old bay gelding Welthi by 20 lengths and 25 lengths when ridden by Michael Smith, was marred by tragedy when Blue Rondo collapsed and died from a heart attack, while Out of the Blue and Gala King were also unable to complete the race. As a consequence, the Jockey Club decreed that all future runners would require a vets certificate stating that each horse is 'both sound and fit enough to complete 3 miles and 6 furlongs carrying 12 stone'.

Thursday 9th October 1980
Town Plate for aged horses carrying 12 stone
PEA PACK, owned and ridden by Miss Yvette Perrin

Sunday 11th October 1981 (311th running)

Sunday 11th October 1981
Town Plate for aged horses carrying 12 stone
KINBA, trained by Mr Herbert Caldecot and owned and ridden by Miss S Caldecot

Sunday 10th October 1982
Town Plate for aged horses carrying 12 stone
VIEWED AWAY, owned and ridden by Miss Janet Harris

Sunday 9th October 1983
Town Plate for aged horses carrying 12 stone
JAM, owned Mrs J A De Rothschild and ridden by Miss Zara Pratt

Sunday 14th October 1984
Town Plate for aged horses carrying 12 stone
1. SUMMONS, owned by Mrs S M Embiricos, trained by Josh Gifford and ridden by Miss Alexandra Embiricos
2. SHANIPOUR, owned by J B Austin, trained by Guy Harwood and ridden by Amanda Harwood
3. FONTENAY, owned by Mrs V A Ward and ridden by Jane Barlow
4. BIHA'S BOUNTY, owned by D A Goodwin and ridden by Sean Regan
Also MONTE ACUTO, owned by R A Blyth and ridden by Ms A P Peters
BAY BUZZ owned and ridden by N D Quesnel
TRISCOMBE PARK, owned by M Tatlow and ridden by Miss Kay Williams
WISSINGTON JOY, owned and trained by Peter Poston and ridden by P Harding-Jones
SIR GIDEON, owned by W A Ward and ridden by Mrs Barbara Schofield-Merry
MASTER NIBBLE owned and ridden by Clive J Holmes
BOWSTRIDGE LANE, owned by Clive J Holmes and ridden by Peter Keal
PARSON'S PROGRESS owned and ridden by Miss Linda York
CAPTAIN AMERICA, owned by Miss Lynne Ennis and ridden by Terry Richard O'Brien
BE FREE owned and ridden by Mrs Gaye Bartle
GAMBLING GUY, owned by R P N Roberts and ridden by Mrs Janice Roberts
VIEWED AWAY, owned by Mrs L Clay and ridden by Tommy Clay
SATCHMO owned and ridden by Keith Loads
AIRBORNE ACE, owned by Paul Whicher and ridden by Miss Josephine Doyle
GREY HUNTER, owned and trained by Eric Eldin and ridden by A J Pearce
TOBAGO, owned by Mr & Mrs W Fox and ridden by Sergeant Olwyn Harding
IDYLL FELLA, owned by Mrs Rosemary Linton and ridden by Andrew O'Halloran
PRINCE HERITIER owned and ridden by B Tepper
The 1984 Newmarket Town Plate was won by 16-year-old North Foreland schoolgirl Alexandra Embiricos aboard Summons, trained by Josh Gifford, winning by 4 lengths and 8 lengths, and defeating previous winner Viewed Away. The prize was presented by 1981 Grand National winning jockey Bob Champion, who rode Aldaniti, owned by Alexandra's father Nick, to victory in the Aintree event. Alexandra's win upholds the family tradition in the Town Plate, as her grandmother Eileen, daughter of Solly Joel, was the first woman to win the race on Hogier in 1926. Twenty-nine years later her mother Valda Rogerson won the race on Vulpes in 1955. Furthermore, other members of the Joel family who enjoyed success in the historic race were Solna Jones in 1948 on Filius, and Di Thomson-Jones on Stem Turn in 1964.

Sunday 13th October 1985
Town Plate for aged horses carrying 12 stone
VELVET TOUCH, owned by Sheikh Mohammed, trained by Guy Harwood and ridden by Miss Amanda Harwood

Sunday 12th October 1986
Town Plate for horses carrying 12 stone
1. BUSHIDO, owned by Mr Khalid Abdulla, trained by Guy Harwood and ridden by Miss Gaye Harwood
2. HILL OF SLANE owned by Mrs M Jarvis, trained by Alan Jarvis and ridden by Sarah Ellen Jarvis
3. TARA'S CHIEFTAIN owned by Gerry Enright and ridden by Marjorie Enright
4. THE SCOURGE owned by Miss Tina Braddon and ridden by Richard Black
Also SILBANDO owned and ridden by Richard Bateman
SARDAR owned by Richard Bateman and ridden by G N Hooke
GOOMAY SMASH owned and ridden by J R A Young
FLASHY'S PAL owned by Mr & Mrs A Waller and ridden by R Page
BARLEEN owned and ridden by A D Barlow
LEA VIM OWEN owned by L Streeton and ridden by Mrs A L Morris
MIRAMAC owned by Francis Lee and ridden by Miss Gay Arber
SONGDORA owned and ridden by Miss Laura Sheff
ASHLEIGH BOY owned by T C Kennard and ridden by Miss Debbie Linford
SOVEREIGN'S IMAGE owned by Mrs P Joynes and ridden by Miss Teresa Spearing
LADY ABINGER owned by Mrs B Mersh and ridden by Nigel Mersh
NOVASCOPE owned and ridden by Mrs J V Wilkinson
BELLAMUSE owned by M Castell and ridden by Mrs S J Castell
HAYCOCK'S RABBIT owned by Miss J Claydon and ridden by Miss Paula Claydon
NEWS KING owned by Mrs M Kennell and ridden by P Close
OVERULE owned by R J Price and ridden by Peter Oppenheimer
INDIAN SONG owned by T H Rossiter and ridden by Mrs Jane Barlow
WONDER HILL owned and ridden by C J Holmes
ENTRAMBI owned by D Benedetto and ridden by Miss Melanie Caple
MONTE ACUTO owned by Mandy Peters and ridden by R Blyth
ACLE owned by Miss Helen Hewitt and ridden by Andrew O'Halloran
IDYLL FELLA owned by David O'Halloran and ridden by David O'Halloran jnr
LAURA'S CHOICE owned by P Caston and ridden by C Carman
HOT ANNA owned by Dr A J Pearce and ridden by Mick Amery
AMY owned and ridden by Mrs Eileen Pearson
CAPTAIN AMERICA owned by Miss Lynne Ennis and ridden by Terry O'Brien
VAL CLIMBER owned by Industrial Glove Co Ltd and ridden by Miss S Coley
The historic 316th running of the race was started by retired Newmarket trainer Bruce Hobbs and was won by a distance by the 3-year-old colt Bushido, trained in Sussex by Guy Harwood and ridden by his 14-year-old daughter Gaye. The win followed up her sister Amanda's win the previous year.

Sunday 11th October 1987
Town Plate for aged horses carrying 12 stone
1. CUBIC ZIRCONIA, owned and ridden by Mrs Clare Williams
2. ATKINS, ridden by Mrs Marjorie Enright and owned by Mr Leonard Fuller
Also: SURPRISE ATTACK, ridden by Miss Emma O'Gorman and owned by Mr Eric Eldin
Also: KNOCK HILL, ridden by Miss Sally Webster and owned by Mr Peter Thompson
Also: LADY ABINGER, ridden by Mr T Donnelly and owned by Mrs Barbara Mersh
Also: COOLE CASTLE, ridden by Mr Nigel Mersh and owned by Mrs Barbara Mersh
Also: LAY THE TRUMP, owned and ridden by Dr Robert Dowling
Also: BOOK OF KELLS, owned and ridden by Mr Steven Astaire
Also: SWANLY, ridden by Miss Vicky Marshall and owned by Mr Steven Astaire
Also: SOVEREIGN’D IMAGE, ridden by Miss Caroline Spearing and owned by Mrs P Joynes
Also: ROCK OF HONOUR, owned and ridden by Miss C J Hawcutt
Also: LADY'S DAUGHTER, ridden by Mr Brian Boulton and owned by Mr D A Goodwin
Also: YUKON FLASH, ridden by Miss Holly Wicks and owned by Mrs Andrea Boulton
Also: BELL RINGER, owned and ridden by Mr Richard Bateman
Also: CASHLAN, owned and ridden by Mrs Maggie Bryson
Also: NETHER WALLOP, ridden by Miss Sarah Webber and owned by Mrs John Webber
Also: DEADLY VENTURE, owned and ridden by Mrs Valerie Hughes
Also: RAMBA JINGLE, ridden by Miss Rachel Judge and owned by Mr E J Judge
Also: RUMFELLA, ridden by Mr Andy O’Halloran and owned by Mr Brian Bransom
Also: ACLE, ridden by Mr David O’Halloran jnr and owned by Miss Helen Hewitt
Also: MILITARY CROWN, owned and ridden by Mrs Jeanette Carr-Evans
Also: TARA'S CHIEFTAN, ridden by Miss Gaye Harwood and owned by Mr G P Enright
Also: GLAZEPTA REWORK, owned and ridden by Mr G N Hooke
Also: TESTAROSSA, ridden by Miss Melie Roberts and owned by Mr T C F Kenward
Also: ASHLEIGH BOY, owned and ridden by Miss Debbie Linford
Also: HERNSHAW, ridden by Mr Kevin Williams and owned by Mr Brian Cross
Also: BURNTWOOD LADY, owned and ridden by Mrs Penelope Avison
Also: GENVESA, ridden by Mrs Janette Coles and owned by Mr B Power
Also: MIANGITA, ridden by Miss Teresa Swain and owned by Mr & Mrs S Barcham-Stevens
Also: ELEKTRON, ridden by Mr Edward Miller and owned by Mr & Mrs James Miller

Sunday 9th October 1988
Town Plate for aged horses carrying 12 stone
TARA'S CHIEFTAN, owned and ridden by Mrs Marjorie Enright

Sunday 1st October 1989
Town Plate for aged horses carrying 12 stone
1. NEWSELL'S PARK, owned and ridden by Miss Paula Choppen
Also: LAY THE TRUMP, owned and ridden by Dr Bob Dowling
Also: FLYING SILVER, ridden by Mr D G Gedge and owned by Mrs D G Gedge and Mr D J Robard
Also: BARLEEN, ridden by Mr A D Barlow and owned by Mr P A Barlow
Also: SNEAK PREVIEW, ridden by Mr Robert King and owned by Mr W Foster
Also: MADARRAY, ridden by Mrs K Scallon and owned by Mr T Morgan
Also: WING BEE, owned and ridden by Miss A Peters
Also: ANNETTE'S VENTURE, ridden by Mrs Carol Lee and owned by Mr Richard Lee
Also: BURGLAR'S WALK, ridden by Mr Andrew Gudgeon and owned by Albany Racing Lts
Also: GO MOTORPLAN, ridden by Mrs Julieanna Butterworth and owned by Mrs Susan Scargill
Also: CASHLAN, owned and ridden by Mrs Maggie Bryson
Also: HYDRO-ELECTRIC, ridden by Mr M Stiles and owned by Mr P Rawbone
Also: MERRY MEASURE, ridden by Mr N W Mersh and owned by Mrs Barbara Mersh
Also: THE PATRICK FOX, owned and ridden by Mr Sean Scallon
Also: PROCERUS, owned and ridden by Mr T Morgan
Also: BAD HABITS, owned and ridden by Mrs Marjorie Enright
Also: BOTANY BLADE, owned and ridden by Mrs Penelope Avison
Also: MAGNOLIA DANCER, ridden by Mr Dan Marshall and owned by Mr Miles Gage
Also: SONNY MAY, owned and ridden by Mr Craig Jarvis
Also: PAULENA DUALCHANCE, owned and ridden by Miss Catherine Lake
Also: WOOLMANS, owned and ridden by Mr Kenneth Beale
Also: PRIX DU NORD, ridden by Mr G N Hooke and owned by Mr K G Wingrove

Sunday 14th October 1990
Town Plate for aged horses carrying 12 stone
PECHE D’OR, owned by Mrs H E Haynes and ridden by Miss Fiona A Haynes

Sunday 13th October 1991
Town Plate for aged horses carrying 12 stone
1. METAL OISEAU, ridden by Mr Danny Marshall and owned by Mr Frank Ivory
Also: SHERNOAKE, owned and ridden by Mrs Nicky Watts
Also: JAMIE LOCH, owned and ridden by Mrs Belinda-Ann Thompson
Also: HIGH CLASS AGENT, owned and ridden by Mr J C Bedwell
Also: LAMBOURN RAJA, owned and ridden by Mr Kevin Turk
Also: ROMERHOF, ridden by Mr N W Mersh and owned by Mrs Barbara Mersh
Also: E ZOE MOU, ridden by Mr Peter Cornwell and owned by Mrs Jane Cornwell
Also: RAIN OR SHINE. Ridden by Mr Mike Sinstadt and owned by Mrs A J Flanders
Also: TARA'S CHIEFTAN, owned and ridden by Mrs Marjorie Enright
Also: SURPRISE ATTACK, ridden by Mr Brian McCuaig and owned by Mr Eric Eldin
Also: RODGER DELL, owned and ridden by Mr Harry Spencer
Also: PA-JO, ridden by Mr Brian Sawyer and owned by Mr Peter Needham
Also: FLYING SILVER, ridden by Mr D G Gedge and owned by Mr D J Rodbard
Also: RASHITA, owned and ridden by Miss Lisa Kippen
Also: ONE OF THE LADS, owned and ridden by Mrs Hazel Noonan
Also: GRIFF, owned and ridden by Mrs Iseabal Smith
Also: STORM GULF, ridden by Mrs Penny Stearn and owned by Mrs S Stearn
Also: FAST RUN, owned and ridden by Mr K Linwood
Also: CRYMLYN SWING, ridden by Mr R Hambleton and owned by Mrs R Goodenough
Also: CHRISTO, ridden by Mr Adrian Allan Wintle and owned by Mr G J A Wintle
Also: MUSSELL BED, owned and ridden by Mrs J V Wilkinson

Sunday 11th October 1992
Town Plate for aged horses carrying 12 stone
JIMSTRO, owned by Mr L Parr and ridden by Mr Guy Pewter

Sunday 10th October 1993
Town Plate for aged horses carrying 12 stone
ATHASSEL ABBEY, owned and ridden by Mr Nick Duke

Sunday 9th October 1994
Town Plate for aged horses carrying 12 stone
SEA BUCK, owned and ridden by Mrs Carolyn Poland

Sunday 8th October 1995
Town Plate for aged horses carrying 12 stone
SEA BUCK, owned by Mr Henry Candy and ridden by Miss Sophie Candy

Sunday 13th October 1996
Town Plate for aged horses carrying 12 stone
SEA BUCK, owned by Mr Henry Candy and ridden by Miss Sophie Candy

Sunday 12th October 1997
Town Plate for aged horses carrying 12 stone
SEA BUCK, owned by Mr Henry Candy and ridden by Miss Emma Candy

Sunday 11th October 1998
Town Plate for aged horses carrying 12 stone
SEA BUCK, owned by Mr Henry Candy and ridden by Miss Emma Candy

Sunday 10th October 1999
Town Plate for aged horses carrying 12 stone
GLORIOUS ENCOUNTER, owned by Mr R Stronge and ridden by Mr Matthew Stronge

Sunday 8th October 2000
Town Plate for aged horses carrying 12 stone
GALE FORCE, owned and ridden by Mr Danny Marshall