A brief and selective history of flat racing in Newmarket

This book does not concern itself with identifying the first ever English horserace or with tracing the ancient history of racing generally. It is concerned with the modern period of horseracing, from the time at which it was codified in the nineteenth century, to its contemporary form. The main impetus for this codification came from the Jockey Club.

The Jockey Club was established in 1750 as a gentlemen's club, meeting most often in the Star and Garter in Pall Mall. The Club also met at the Corner, Hyde Park, owned by Richard Tattersall. When Tattersall moved to Knightsbridge the Jockey Club moved into the Bond Street residence of their agents, Weatherbys (Black 1893). This trio of institutions – the Jockey Club, Weatherbys and Tattersalls – are still dominant forces in English racing, though their roles have changed since the formation of the British Horseracing Board in 1992.

The records of the Jockey Club do not reveal its original purpose, and there does not seem to be any explicit statement of intent to control racing. Membership was almost exclusively aristocratic.