Union Race Course facts for kids
1857 Map of the Mission District showing the Pioneer and Union Race Courses (West at top of map). U.S. Coast Survey A.D. Bache, Superintendent. City Of San Francisco And Its Vicinity California. From a plane label survey by A.F. Rogers Sub-assistant. Verified W.R. Palmer Capt. Topl. Engrs. Asst. C.S. In charge of Office. Lith. of J. Bien 60 Fulton St. N.Y.
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| Location | San Francisco, California, United States |
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| Date opened | 1850s |
| Date closed | July 18, 1863 |
The Union Race Course was a place where horse races happened in San Francisco, California. It opened in the 1850s. This race track was located in an area called the Mission District.
At that time, there were two horse race tracks in the Mission District. The other one was called Pioneer Race Course, and it was only a few blocks away. When the Union Race Course was first planned, there were no streets in that part of the neighborhood. Later, it was located between 19th Street and 23rd Street, and between Capp Street and Harrison Street.
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What Was the Union Race Course?
The Union Race Course was a track where people watched and bet on horse races. It was a popular spot for entertainment in San Francisco during the mid-1800s. Horse racing was a big deal back then.
How Big Was the Track?
The race track was half a mile long. This means horses would run two laps to complete a one-mile race. It was a busy place with many people coming to watch the races.
Changes and Closing of the Race Course
In 1862, the Union Race Course got a makeover. It was moved a little bit to an area with softer ground. After this change, it was given a new name: 'Willows Trotting Park'.
Why Did It Close?
Even with the new name and improvements, the race course didn't last much longer. The land it was on became very valuable. People wanted to build houses there, and the land was worth more for homes than for a race track.
The very last horse race at the Union Race Course happened on July 18, 1863. After that, the land was used for other things.
How the Race Course Affected San Francisco
The location of the Union Race Course, and the older Pioneer Race Course, had an interesting effect on the city's development. Their positions actually helped decide where the San Francisco-San Jose Railway would be built. This shows how important these early race tracks were to the city's growth.
