Northumberland Plate
History
The event was established in 1833, and the inaugural running was won by Tomboy. It was initially held at Town Moor, and it was part of a meeting first staged at Killingworth in 1623. It was transferred to its present venue at Gosforth Park in 1882.The Northumberland Plate originally took place on a Wednesday, and for many years the meeting was a holiday for local mine workers. The race became popularly known as the "Pitmen's Derby". The meeting ceased to be a holiday in 1949, and the race was switched to a Saturday in 1952.
The Northumberland Plate is now one of the richest two-mile handicaps in the world. It was sponsored by John Smith's from 2003 to 2016, by Stobart Rail Limited in 2017 and 2018 and by Betfair since 2019.
Since 2016, it has been run on an artificial all-weather surface, Tapeta, having previously been run on turf.
Records
Most successful horse :
- Underhand – 1857, 1858, 1859
- Brian Rouse - Tug Of War
- Bruce Raymond - Grey God, Totowah
- Willie Carson – Al Maheb, Celeric
- Kevin Darley – Far Cry, Bay of Islands
- Paul Cole – Windsor Castle, Cyrian, Archduke Ferdinand
Winners since 1960
Earlier winners
- 1833: Tomboy
- 1834: Fanny
- 1835: Satan
- 1836: Cyprian
- 1837: Wedge
- 1838: St Bennet
- 1839: St Bennet
- 1840: Hetman Platoff
- 1841: Calypso
- 1842: Heslington
- 1843: Moss Trooper
- 1844: The Era
- 1845: Inheritress
- 1846: Dolo
- 1847: Eryx
- 1848: Chanticleer
- 1849: John Cosser
- 1850: Elthiron
- 1851: Neasham
- 1852: Stilton
- 1853: Kingston
- 1854: Grapeshot
- 1855: Whitelock
- 1856: Zeta
- 1857: Underhand
- 1858: Underhand
- 1859: Underhand
- 1860: First Lord
- 1861: Joey Jones
- 1862: Montebello
- 1863: Caller Ou
- 1864: Caller Ou
- 1865: Brown Bread
- 1866: Rococo
- 1867: Fervacques
- 1868: Fortunio
- 1869: The Spy
- 1870: Kennington
- 1871: Taraban
- 1872: Spennithorne
- 1873: Falkland
- 1874: Lily Agnes
- 1875: Harriet Laws
- 1876: The Snail
- 1877: Hampton
- 1878: Glastonbury
- 1879: Clearhead
- 1880: Mycenae
- 1881: Bonnie Doon
- 1882: Victor Emanuel
- 1883: Barcaldine
- 1884: Lawminster
- 1885: Blue Grass
- 1886: Stone Clink
- 1887: Exmoor
- 1888: Matin Bell
- 1889: Drizzle
- 1890: Houndsditch
- 1891: Queen's Birthday
- 1892: Newcourt
- 1893: Seaton Delaval
- 1894: Newcourt
- 1895: The Docker
- 1896: Dare Devil
- 1897: Bradwardine
- 1898: King Crow
- 1899: Sherburn
- 1900: Joe Chamberlain
- 1901: Reminiscence
- 1902: Osbech
- 1903: Cliftonhall
- 1904: Palmy Days
- 1905: Princess Florizel
- 1906: Outbreak
- 1907: Killigrew
- 1908: Old China
- 1909: Sir Harry
- 1910: Elizabetta
- 1911: Pillo
- 1912: Mynora
- 1913: The Tylt
- 1914: The Guller
- 1915–18: no race
- 1919: Trestle
- 1920: Irish Lake
- 1921: Hunt Law
- 1922: Double Hackle
- 1923: Carpathus
- 1924: Jazz Band
- 1925: Obliterate
- 1926: Foxlaw
- 1927: Border Minstrel
- 1928: Primrose League
- 1929: Ballynahinch
- 1930: Show Girl
- 1931: Blue Vision
- 1932: Pommarel
- 1933: Leonard
- 1934: White Plains
- 1935: Doreen Jane
- 1936: Coup de Roi
- 1937: Nectar
- 1938: Union Jack
- 1939: Oracion
- 1940–45: no race
- 1946: Gusty *
- 1947: Culrain
- 1948: Pappatea
- 1949: Fol Ami
- 1950: Light Cavalry
- 1951: Sycomore II
- 1952: Souepi
- 1953: Nick La Rocca
- 1954: Friseur
- 1955: Little Cloud
- 1956:
- 1957: Great Rock
- 1958: Master of Arts
- 1959: Cannebiere