The Lancashire Plate was first run on 22 September 1888 over seven furlongs at Manchester Racecourse. The prize money was made up of £11,000 added to a sweepstakes of £20 each. The weights were 7 st 5 lb for two-year-olds, 9 st 3 lb for three-year-olds and 9 st 9 lb for four-year-olds, with mares and geldings being allowed to carry 3 lb less. Horses that had won more than £1,000 (excluding handicaps) once had to carry a 4 lb penalty and winners of either £1,000 once or £2,000 twice had to carry a 7 lb penalty. Any horse who had won the 2000 Guineas, Derby or St. Leger had to carry an extra 10 lb.[1] The purse was increased to £12,000 in 1889,[2] but reduced back to £11,000 in 1890, when the subscription was reduced to £5.[3] In 1892 the distance of the race was increased to one mile and the purse was reduced to 10,000[4] The prize money was reduced again to £8,000 in 1892.[5] The Lancashire Plate was last run in 1893 and the following season was replaced by the Prince Edward Handicap worth £2,000.[6]
