Union Race Course

The Union Race Course once dominated the landscape of the Mission District, occupying an expansive stretch of land between what are now nineteenth and twenty-third streets. In the mid-nineteenth century, this area was entirely devoid of streets, functioning instead as a wide-open recreational destination for city residents. Enthusiasts believed the soft, springy soil found in this part of the valley provided a faster surface for horses, making it a premier spot for high-stakes racing. The track was half a mile long, requiring horses to complete two laps to finish a mile. It stood as a major hub for entertainment, drawing crowds eager to witness the fastest steeds of the era. The presence of this track, along with the nearby Pioneer Race Course, significantly influenced the early development of the neighborhood. Their specific locations helped dictate the path of the San Francisco and San Jose Railway as it pushed into the city, effectively shaping the modern street grid you walk today. In 1862, the course underwent a transformation, moving slightly to even softer ground and adopting the name Willows Trotting Park. This change was short-lived, however, as the rapid growth of San Francisco made the land increasingly valuable for residential use. By July 18, 1863, the final horse race was run here, and the site was eventually surrendered to the city’s expanding footprint, permanently erasing the track from the landscape but leaving its legacy etched into the orientation of the surrounding streets.