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, funded ultimately by rent from the 'Plate Land' indicated on the map below. 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.
Rule 1 Every horse, mare or gelding shall be led out between 11 and 12 o'clock ready for a 1pm start.
Rule 2 Every horse shall carry 12st and if, when weighing in, a rider shall be over 1 1/2 lbs short of the required weight, he shall win no prize.
Rule 3 Every horse that rides the new Round Course, 3 times over, on the outside of the Ditch from Newmarket, shall leave all posts and flags the first and last heats on the right-hand side, and in the second heat on the left hand side, starting and ending at the weighing post by Cambridge Gap, also called Thomond's Post.
Rule 4 If a horse goes, either willingly or for advantage, within any of the flags, he shall win no prize and lose his stake, but if he is thrust between the flags he shall only lose the heat, provided he keeps within all of the rest of the flags and does not get distanced.
Rule 5 Between each heat there should be half an hour for relief, and for the horses to be rubbed down.
Rule 6 If an owner, servant, rider, party or bettor appears willingly to stop any other horse then he shall win no prize.
Rule 7 If any rider lays hold on, or strikes, another horse then he shall win no prize.
Rule 8 If any horse falls and unseats his rider, if that rider remounts and is not distanced, as determined by the Judge, then he shall only lose the heat.
Rule 9 If any Judge weighs any rider at the end of any heat, and finds that he has fraudulently cast away any of his weight, wanting more than 1 1/2 lbs, he shall lose the Plate.
Rule 10 If any dispute arises about the rules of riding which are not covered by these Articles, then it shall be referred to the Judges, or Noblemen and Gentlemen present who have contributed to the Plate.
Rule 11 Every horse which wins 3 heats shall win the Plate.
Rule 12 Every horse running for the Plate shall pay £3, except a contributor’s horse who shall put in £2.
Rule 13 Whoever wins the Plate shall give 20 shillings to the Clerk of the Race to be distributed to the poor on both sides of Newmarket, and 20 shillings to the Clerk of the Course to keep the course 'plain and free from cart roots'.
Rule 14 The Clerk of the Race should receive the stakes before any horse starts, and should deliver the stakes to a tenant (Treasurer) who is given sufficient security to look after the money and to ensure that some money is available for the next year's prize.
Rule 15 Prior to the running of every heat the rider shall deposit 20 shillings to the Clerk of the Race, the total being given to the winning horse, except the last horse in the heat shall pay the stakes of the second horse, so saving him his stake.
Rule 16 No horse which does not win any of the 3 heats shall be permitted to 'come in and run the course'.
Rule 17 The Plate shall be run on the second Thursday in October, every rider to carry 12 stone, but if any gentleman 'shall carry weight in his saddle, he shall have liberty, provided he allows 2lbs to the rest for the weight of their saddles.'
Rule 18 The Clerk of the Race summons the riders to start again at the end of half an hour by the signal of a drum, trumpet or any other way, setting up an hour glass for that purpose.
Rule 19 No man is admitted to ride for the Plate that is either a serving man or groom.
Rule 20 Those horses that after the running of the 3 heats shall run the 4-mile course, shall lead away and start within 1 1/2 hours or shall win no Plate.

If any visitor to this page is able to provide further details, or photos, of any year covered to date then contact johnwslusar@gmail.com. The ultimate, very ambitious, target is to provide the result for every year, so if you have evidence to support the result for any of the missing years listed below then please contact me.

CLICK HERE for an article on the Newmarket Town Plate by Bill O'Gorman.

QUICKSAND

Mr John Clarke (rider) Mr Goodison (owner)

MISS

Richard Marshall (rider) Mr James Brewster (owner, walked over)

NEPHEW

Richard Marshall (rider) Mr Wilthsire (owner, walked over)

PUMPKIN

George Browning (rider) Mr Vernon (owner, walked over)

ARGOS

Richard Marshall (rider) Mr Philip Burlton (owner)

STRAWBERRY

Richard Marshall (rider) Mr Stacie (owner)

TOSS

Richard Marshall (rider) Mr Goodison (owner)