Annapolis Subscription Plate

The Annapolis Subscription Plate represents a significant chapter in horse racing history, marking the first documented formal horse race in colonial Maryland. The event took place in May 1743 near Annapolis, along the South River. Charles Carroll wagered his horse against Dungannon, owned by George Hume Steuart. Dungannon triumphed, establishing a long-standing tradition of horse racing in Parole, Maryland.

The silver trophy, created by Annapolis silversmith John Inch, is currently displayed at the Baltimore Museum of Art. It holds the distinction of being the oldest surviving silver object made in Maryland and the second-oldest known horse racing trophy in the United States. Although horse racing activities were suspended during the American Revolution, the sport revived with the establishment of the Jockey Club in Annapolis.

In contemporary times, a replica of the Annapolis Subscription Plate, named "The Dungannon Bowl" was commissioned by the Maryland Jockey Club in 1955. This replica is awarded annually to the winner of the Dixie Stakes, the oldest stakes race in Maryland and the Mid-Atlantic region. The race, enjoying renewed popularity, is organized by descendants of Dr. Steuart, who continue to reside at Dodon.