Morris Park Racecourse

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Coordinates: 40°51′00″N 73°51′20″W / 40.85000°N 73.85556°W / 40.85000; -73.85556
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
1897

Morris Park Racecourse was an American

thoroughbred horse racing facility from 1889 to 1904. It was located in a part of Westchester County, New York that was annexed into the Bronx in 1895 and later developed as the neighborhood of Morris Park. The racecourse was the site of the Belmont Stakes from 1890 through 1904 as well as the Preakness Stakes
in 1890.

History

Morris Park Racecourse was conceived and built by majority shareholder

African-American Racing Hall of Fame jockey Isaac Murphy rode on opening day at the new facility—August 20, 1889—and Morris Park was described as "the finest race track in the world."[1][2] Accessible by horse and buggy, the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad added a short spur from its main line near the Van Nest station that brought racing fans directly to the new race track from the greater New York City area.[3]

The track held the USA Cross Country Championships from 1890 to 1892 and 1897 to 1898.[4]

On June 10, 1890, Morris Park Racecourse hosted both the Preakness and Belmont Stakes.

Matron Stakes
the following year.

A few days before he died in May 1895, John Morris leased the racecourse, with an option to purchase, to the Westchester Racing Association. Although the 1½ mile racecourse was modified to a one-mile circuit to allow for better spectator viewing, a lack of patronage by high society members meant the clubhouse was usually empty. By 1902, the decline in attendance resulted in the decision to close Morris Park Racecourse.[6] The final day of races was held on October 15, 1904, and racing shifted to the new Belmont Park the following year.[7]

After its closure, the Morris Park Racecourse was used for

Glenn H. Curtiss put on a flying exhibition at Morris Park.[8]

On April 10, 1910 a fire ravaged much of the stables and nearby facilities.

ornamental iron.[10]

Physical attributes

Morris Park is shown in the center, with the long axis of the track oval oriented northwest-southeast. It is connected by Pelham Parkway to the large Pelham Bay Park to the northeast. The New York, New Haven, and Hartford rail line runs very close to the southeast edge of the property. To the west if Old Boston Road and beyond that Bronx Park
1896 New York Times map showing the location of Morris Park and other major landmarks in the Bronx

Morris Park Racecourse was situated in the area bounded on the south by Sackett Avenue and by what is today the

Pelham Parkway. The grandstand stood at the intersection of Bogart and Fowler Avenues and the clubhouse was near the intersection of Fowler and Van Nest Avenues.[11][12]

The racetrack covered 360 acres (1.5 km2) and had a grandstand 650 feet (200 m) long that could accommodate up to 15,000 attendees. The main track had circumference of 1+1⁄2 mi (2.4 km), with a stretch that was 2,250 feet (690 m) long and widened from 80 feet (24 m) at the top of the homestretch to 240 feet (73 m) at the finish line. The north end of the track was located on a hill so horses had to run uphill on the backstretch and downhill on the homestretch. A

Toboggan Handicap. The stables at Morris Park Racecourse held a total of 1,000 stalls, more than any two of the other American racetracks combined.[3][13][14]

Thoroughbred stakes races at Morris Park

Other defunct New York race tracks

See also

References

Notes
  1. ^ DiBrino 1977, p.5.
  2. ^ "Geraldine's New Record; Made Yesterday at the New Race Track. A Most Successful Opening Day at the Finest Race Track in the World". The New York Times. August 21, 1889. Retrieved 2009-08-23.
  3. ^ a b "New West Chester Track; The Home of the New-York Jockey Club. Progress of the Work at the Track, Which Will Be the Finest Race Course in the World". The New York Times. May 12, 1889. Retrieved 2009-08-23.
  4. ^ "The Accurate Database of U.S. National Champions". therealxc.com. Retrieved 2018-09-14.
  5. ^ "Burlington a Racehorse; He Wins the Twenty-Third Belmont in Good Style". The New York Times. June 11, 1890. Retrieved 2009-10-13.
  6. ^ "New Race Track Planned; Morris Park to be Abandoned for a Course on Long Island". The New York Times. November 26, 1902. Retrieved 2009-08-23.
  7. ^ "Record Was Broken at Morris Park's Last Day; Artful Set a New World's Mark for Six Furlongs Down the Hill". The New York Times. October 16, 1904. Retrieved 2009-08-23.
  8. ^ "Curtiss Flies Here; In the Air a Minute at Morris Park Race Course". The New York Times. June 17, 1909. Retrieved 2009-08-23.
  9. ^ "Flames Sweep Old Morris Park Track; Westchester Village Endangered by Fire Which Destroys Famous Stables". The New York Times. April 11, 1910. Retrieved 2009-08-23.
  10. ^ "The Bronx Market; Part of Old Morris Park Race Track for Iron Factory". The New York Times. July 21, 1921. Retrieved 2009-08-23.
  11. ^ DiBrino 1977, p.3.
  12. ^ New York-New Jersey Harlem Quadrangle (Map). 1:62,500. 15 Minute Series (Topographic). United States Geological Survey. 1900. § SE. Archived from the original on 2019-01-29. Retrieved 2009-08-23.
  13. ^ DiBrino 1977, p.4.
  14. ^ Worman, James H., ed. (1892). Outing. Vol. 20. New York: The Outing Company, Ltd. pp. 131–132. Retrieved 2009-08-23.
Bibliography
  • DiBrino, Nicholas (1977). The History of the Morris Park Racecourse and the Morris Family. Bronx: Bronx County Historical Society.
    ISBN 978-0-941980-27-2
    .

External links

40°51′00″N 73°51′20″W / 40.85000°N 73.85556°W / 40.85000; -73.85556

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