One might think the Jockey Club needs no explanation, but it is not widespread knowledge that “jockey” also used to mean someone who deals in horses, and “a cheat; a trickish fellow.” We have Dr Johnson’s Dictionary to thank for this mid-18th century definitions. This coincides with the time the Jockey Club was set up. However, no sooner did the Jockey Club start marketing that its beginnings were in 1750 than evidence started emerging that a like-minded grouping could be traced back to 1729, if not earlier.
For a long time the Club’s first known meeting was in 1751 at the Star and Garter in London’s Pall Mall, and others followed in nearby St James’s Street and Hyde Park. In 1752 the Club leased some land in the Newmarket High Street, where they built a coffee house for their meetings. The freehold followed in 1831 and the Jockey Club Rooms are on the same site today, though their offices are in central London, shared with the British Horseracing Authority.
The publication of The Heath and the Horse (Oldrey, Cox and Nash) in 2016 instantly made it the definitive book about the history of racing at Newmarket and goes in to great detail on the origins of the Club. One theory is that the result of a disputed race at Newmarket adjudicated by Charles II in 1682 (“the King with the Jockeys … decided”) marks an embryo Jockey Club. A more substantial conclusion is 1717, when George I visited Newmarket and a dozen or so Dukes, Earls and Lords entertained him. This is given credence by the instituting of the Match Book, a record of all races there from 1718-88. Further research by its authors may reveal yet more information.
NEWMARKET
The Jockey Club Cup dates back to 1873, run over two and a quarter miles at Newmarket. From 1959-62 it was curtailed to a mile and a half before being increased to two miles. In 2011 it moved to Ascot’s Champions Day meeting, losing its old title in favour of the humdrum British Champions Long Distance Cup. It was promoted to Group 1 status in 2025. The quality of the race has improved, and triple winner Trueshan was a popular winner in 2020-22. Many fondly remember Barry Hills’ grey Further Flight, who may not have been the best winner of the race, but his five consecutive victories from 1991-95 stand out.
The Jockey Club Stakes, inaugurated in 1894, has always been staged at Newmarket but has moved around the calendar and is now part of the Guineas meeting, run over a mile and a half. Derby winners litter the early part of its roll of honour. The best recent victor was Hurricane Lane, third in the Derby, winner of the Irish Derby and the St Leger.