Houston Driving Park (1902)
Houston Driving Park also known as Harrisburg Park was a horse racing track located in the Houston, Magnolia Park neighborhood along Harrisburg Boulevard. It was opened in 1902, and closed around 1910. The former track is now a residential area.
Location | Houston, Texas |
---|---|
Operated by | Houston Driving Park Association |
Date opened | 1902 |
Date closed | 1910? |
Course type | Varied |
Planning and construction
In March 1902, members of the Houston Driving Park Association and the Houston Country Club surveyed an area in Magnolia Park for the grounds of a new race track.[1] With a capacity of 600,[2] grandstands were erected and the park had opened by November 1902.[3]
Houston Lambs tenancy
In June 1904, the Houston Driving Park Association began work to temporarily transform the race park into a ballpark for temporary use by the Houston Lambs (later known as the Houston Buffaloes) of the South Texas League.[4] After being evicted from Herald Park, the ball club eventually played several games at the Houston Driving Park beginning with a game against the Galveston Sandcrabs on July 29, 1904.[5] The club received a new ballpark when West End Park opened the following season.
References
- "A Race Course". ‘’Galveston Daily News’’. March 16, 2014. p. 7.
- "The Matinee Races". ‘’Houston Post’’. November 27, 1902. p. 5.
- "Harness Races Today". ‘’Houston Post’’. November 21, 1902. p. 3.
- "New Ball Park". ‘’Galveston Daily News’’. June 19, 1904. p. 4.
- "At New Park". Houston Post. July 30, 1904. p. 5.