History
Bay Meadows opened in San Mateo in November 1934, developed by promoter Bill Kyne after California legalized pari-mutuel betting. Kyne is credited with bringing several innovations to the track, including the daily double, an enclosed starting gate and the photo-finish camera.
The track stayed open through World War II by giving most of its profits to the war effort and went on to host many of the West's best horses. Seabiscuit won the Bay Meadows Handicap twice, and the track appeared in Stanley Kubrick's 1956 film The Killing.
Redevelopment of the site was planned from the late 1990s. Racing ended on August 17, 2008, and work on the new district began within weeks.
The grandstand and clubhouse were removed, and the land is now the Bay Meadows neighborhood of homes, offices, a school and parks near Hillsdale station.
Why it matters: For decades California's longest continually operating Thoroughbred track and a hub of Northern California racing.
Timeline
- November 1934
Bill Kyne's track opened in San Mateo in November 1934.
- 1937Seabiscuit wins Bay Meadows Handicap[1]
Seabiscuit won the handicap in 1937 and again in 1938.
- 1954Determine's Derby double[1]
Determine won the Bay Meadows Derby before winning the Kentucky Derby.
- December 1, 2006Baze sets wins record[1]
Russell Baze passed Laffit Pincay Jr. as the winningest jockey in Thoroughbred racing.
- August 17, 2008
The track held its last races, with simulcast wagering ending the next day.
- September 2008Redevelopment begins[1]
Construction started on the housing, office and retail project; the grandstand and clubhouse were demolished (date not documented).
The site today
| Physical status | Site redeveloped |
|---|---|
| Current use | Bay Meadows neighborhood: housing, offices (including SurveyMonkey), the Nueva School campus, retail and city parks[1,2,3,4] |
| Mapped location | Approximate historic location |
Venue facts
| Official name | Bay Meadows |
|---|---|
| Other names | Bay Meadows |
| Location | San Mateo, California, near Hillsdale station; site now the Bay Meadows neighborhood, San Mateo, California |
| Venue type | Racetrack |
| Sports | Horse racing |
| Level | Thoroughbred |
| Opened | November 1934[1,3] |
| Last used for sports | August 17, 2008[1,2,3] |
| Physical status | Site redeveloped |
| Final capacity | 12,000[1] |
| Capacity notes | 12,000 seats and stabling for 900 horses per Wikipedia. |
| Surface | Dirt |
| Owner / operator | Developed by William P. (Bill) Kyne[3] |
| Closure | The land was redeveloped as a mixed-use neighborhood under a city-approved specific plan. |
Documented details
Sources
- Bay Meadows Racetrack, Wikipedia. Accessed 2026-10-19Supports: capacity, closed, current land use, events, opened
- Bay Meadows Rides Off Into The Sunset, SFist. Accessed 2026-10-19Supports: closed, current land use
- Once the most glamorous of race tracks, right in our backyard, Redwood City Pulse. Accessed 2026-10-19Supports: closed, current land use, opened, owner operator
- Bay Meadows (neighborhood), Wikipedia. Accessed 2026-10-19Supports: coordinates, current land use
Research confidence
Some facts on this page rely on a single source or are still being corroborated. Treat specific dates and figures with care. Last reviewed 2026-10-19.
Where sources disagree (1)
- Opening day: Wikipedia gives November 13, 1934; Redwood City Pulse gives November 4, 1934. Recorded at month precision.
See something wrong or missing? Suggest a correction or submit a source.