History
John A. Morris built the course on a 307-acre site, and it opened on August 20, 1889, with a grandstand for 15,000. On June 10, 1890, it hosted both the Preakness and the Belmont Stakes, and the Belmont stayed there through 1904.
The last race was run on October 15, 1904, and racing moved to Belmont Park. The grounds then hosted auto racing and early aviation, including Glenn Curtiss in 1909, before being subdivided into the Morris Park neighborhood.
Timeline
- August 20, 1889
The racecourse opened, with jockey Isaac Murphy riding.
- June 10, 1890Preakness and Belmont same day[1]
Both the Preakness and the Belmont Stakes were run at Morris Park.
- 1891Metropolitan Handicap[1]
The Metropolitan Handicap was first run.
- October 15, 1904
The last horse race was run; Belmont Park opened in 1905.
- June 1909Aviation[1]
Glenn Curtiss gave a flying exhibition on the grounds.
- April 10, 1910Fire[1]
A fire destroyed much of the stables.
The site today
| Physical status | Site redeveloped |
|---|---|
| Current use | Morris Park neighborhood; NYPL says Con Edison owns part of the former property[2] |
| Mapped location | Approximate historic location |
Venue facts
| Other names | Morris Park Aerodrome |
|---|---|
| Location | Bounded by Pelham Parkway, Williamsbridge Road and Bronxdale Avenue, Bronx, New York[1] |
| Venue type | Racetrack |
| Sports | Horse racing |
| Level | Thoroughbred |
| Opened | August 20, 1889[1,2] |
| Last used for sports | October 15, 1904[1,2] |
| Physical status | Site redeveloped |
| Original capacity | 15,000[1] |
| Capacity notes | Grandstand for up to 15,000; 1,000 stalls. |
| Owner / operator | John Albert Morris; leased to the Westchester Racing Association from 1895 |
| Closure | Racing moved to the new Belmont Park, which opened in 1905, and the land was sold for development. |
Documented details
- The Belmont Stakes was run here from 1890 through 1904.[1]
Sources
- Morris Park Racecourse, Wikipedia. Accessed 2026-10-19Supports: address, capacity, closed, events, opened
- Bronx History at the Bronx Library Center: The Morris Park Racecourse, New York Public Library. Accessed 2026-10-19Supports: closed, current land use, opened
- Morris Park, Bronx, Wikipedia. Accessed 2026-10-19Supports: coordinates
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)
- The Morris Park neighborhood article says the course operated until 1910 and that the Belmont ran there until 1905; the racecourse article gives a last race of October 15, 1904.
See something wrong or missing? Suggest a correction or submit a source.