History
The Brooklyn Jockey Club, controlled by Philip Dwyer, opened Gravesend on August 26, 1886. The Preakness Stakes was run there from 1894 into the 1900s, and the Brooklyn Handicap and Brooklyn Derby were founded there.
New York's 1908 Hart-Agnew law and its 1910 amendment ended racing, and the track never reopened. The land was sold to developers in 1920 and the track was demolished in 1922 for housing.
Why it matters: It hosted the Preakness Stakes from 1894 into the 1900s.
Timeline
- August 26, 1886Track opens[1]
The Brooklyn Jockey Club's track opened.
- 1894Preakness moves to Gravesend[1]
The Preakness Stakes was run at Gravesend from 1894 into the 1900s.
- 1908Hart-Agnew law[1]
New York's Hart-Agnew law banned racetrack betting; by 1911 all New York tracks had stopped racing.
- 1920Sold to developers[1]
The land was sold to real-estate developers.
- 1922Demolished[1]
The track was demolished.
The site today
| Physical status | Site redeveloped[1] |
|---|---|
| Current use | Residential neighborhood |
| Mapped location | Former venue site |
Street View near the former site · Satellite view (external, current imagery)
Venue facts
| Location | Between McDonald Avenue and Ocean Parkway, Kings Highway and Avenue U, Gravesend, Brooklyn, Brooklyn, New York[1] |
|---|---|
| Venue type | Racetrack |
| Sports | Horse racing |
| Level | Thoroughbred |
| Opened | August 26, 1886[1] |
| Last used for sports | 1907–1910[1] |
| Demolished | 1922[1] |
| Physical status | Site redeveloped |
| Owner / operator | Brooklyn Jockey Club (Philip Dwyer, president) |
| Closure | New York's 1908 Hart-Agnew anti-betting law and its 1910 amendment ended racing; the track never reopened. |
Documented details
Sources
- Gravesend Race Track, Wikipedia. Accessed 2026-10-19Supports: address, closed, coordinates, demolished, events, opened
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 (2)
- Closing: the Wikipedia infobox gives 1907, the lead 1910, and the body says all New York tracks had stopped by 1911.
- Preakness years at Gravesend: the page gives both 1894-1907 and 1894-1908.
See something wrong or missing? Suggest a correction or submit a source.