The New York State area of the Bronx was formerly Westchester County and encompassed Morris Park where racing took place in the later years of the 19th century. Racing started at the course in 1889 and within a year the track hosted the Belmont Stakes, the earliest of the legs of the Triple Crown, which had been contested at Jerome Racecourse since its inception in 1867. Morris Park racecourse, originally a 12 furlong course, was the brainchild of John Albert Morris who had realised that nearby Jerome Park racecourse would close when the Jerome Reservoir was built. The track was developed on a 360 acre site with an impressive grandstand with the capacity to seat 15,000 people. Morris Park hosted the Belmont Stakes on 10th June 1890, and on the same card was the Preakness Stakes until its closure in 1904. Other feature races at the track included the Champagne Stakes, the Metropolitan Handicap contested first in 1891, the Morris Park Ladies Handicap, the Belle Meade Stakes, the bouquet Stakes, the New York Jockey Club Handicap and the Matron Stakes contested for the first time in 1892. After the visionary John Albert Morris died in May 1895 the track was taken over by the Westchester Racing Association who changed the track to an 8 furlong oval with a separate 9 furlong chute and 73 metre home straight. In the final years of the 19th century and very early years of the 20th century numbers declined and the track held its final meeting on 15th October 1904. The track was used for motor racing after horse racing ceased, but dark days followed at Morris Park, including a devastating fire on 10th April 1910 gutted many of the buildings. Eventually, by 1921 the site was sold to developers and a factory was built on the former racecourse.
Belmont Stakes winners run at Morris Park between 1890 and 1904
1890 The Belmont Stakes, over 10 furlongs, was won by Burlington trained by Albert Cooper and ridden by Shelby Barnes
1891 The Belmont Stakes, over 9 furlongs, was won by Foxford trained by M Donovan and ridden by Edward Garrison
1892 The Belmont Stakes, over 9 furlongs, was won by Patron trained by Lewis Stuart and ridden by William Hayward
1893 The Belmont Stakes, over 10 furlongs, was won by Comanche trained by Gus Hannon and ridden by Willie Simms
1894 The Belmont Stakes, over 11 furlongs, was won by Henry of Navarre trained by Byron McClelland and ridden by Willie Simms
1895 The Belmont Stakes, over 11 furlongs, was won by Belmar trained by Edward Feakes and ridden by Fred Taral
1896 The Belmont Stakes, over 11 furlongs, was won by Hastings trained by John Hyland and ridden by Henry Griffin
1897 The Belmont Stakes, over 11 furlongs, was won by Scottish Chieftain trained by Matt Byrnes and ridden by Joe Scherrer
1898 The Belmont Stakes, over 11 furlongs, was won by Bowling Brook trained by Wyndham Walden and ridden by Fred Littlefield
1899 The Belmont Stakes, over 11 furlongs, was won by Jean Bereaud trained by Sam Hildreth and ridden by Richard Clawson
1900 The Belmont Stakes, over 11 furlongs, was won by Ildrim trained by Eugene Leigh and ridden by Nash Turner
1901 The Belmont Stakes, over 11 furlongs, was won by Commando trained by James Rowe and ridden by Henry Spencer
1902 The Belmont Stakes, over 11 furlongs, was won by Masterman trained by John Hyland and ridden by John Bullman
1903 The Belmont Stakes, over 11 furlongs, was won by Africander trained by Richard Miller and ridden by John Bullman
1904 The Belmont Stakes, over 11 furlongs, was won by Delhi trained by James Rowe and ridden by George Odom
