History
Leonard W. Jerome and August Belmont Sr.'s American Jockey Club opened the track in 1866, and the first Belmont Stakes was run there in 1867. The first outdoor polo match in the United States was played there on May 13, 1876.
The city condemned the track for a reservoir, and racing ended (Wikipedia's articles give 1889 and October 4, 1894). The Jerome Park Reservoir now fills the western half of the site.
Why it matters: It was the original home of the Belmont Stakes.
Timeline
- 1866Track opens[1]
The American Jockey Club's track opened in Fordham, then in Westchester County.
- 1867
The first Belmont Stakes was run at Jerome Park; it stayed there until moving to Morris Park.
- May 13, 1876First outdoor polo match[1]
The first outdoor polo match in the United States was held at the track.
- October 4, 1894Track closes[1]
The track closed to make way for a reservoir.
The site today
| Physical status | Site redeveloped |
|---|---|
| Current use | Jerome Park Reservoir (western half); schools, armory, parks, subway yards and housing (eastern half)[1] |
| Mapped location | Approximate historic location |
Venue facts
| Location | Bronx, New York |
|---|---|
| Venue type | Racetrack |
| Sports | Horse racing |
| Level | Thoroughbred |
| Opened | 1866[1] |
| Last used for sports | October 4, 1894[1,2] |
| Physical status | Site redeveloped |
| Owner / operator | American Jockey Club (Leonard W. Jerome, August Belmont Sr.) |
| Closure | The city condemned the land for the Jerome Park Reservoir. |
Documented details
Sources
- Jerome Park Racetrack, Wikipedia. Accessed 2026-10-19Supports: closed, current land use, events, opened
- Jerome Park Reservoir, Wikipedia. Accessed 2026-10-19Supports: closed, coordinates, events
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 Jerome Park Racetrack article says the track closed on October 4, 1894; the Jerome Park Reservoir article says it closed in 1889.
- Belmont Stakes: the racetrack article says it ran there through 1889 and also until 1890.
See something wrong or missing? Suggest a correction or submit a source.