Morris Park May 25, 1905

This image originally appeared in the May 24, 1905 issue of Horseless Age. It was taken at New York's Morris Park race track to commemorate its opening as an auto racing facility on May 21, 1905. In reality, the course was a horse track that had lost the support of the New York horse racing community who turned their attention to the newly completed Belmont Park race track. Previous to the opening of Belmont Park, the Belmont Stakes had been held at Morris Park.
 
Repurposed as an auto racing facility, the track struggled financially until it was sold to developers and eventually closed entirely in 1910. The first meet was dominated by Louis Chevrolet and marked the appearance of Webb Jay and the "Whistling Billy" White Sewing Machine steam engine racer. In addition to the May opener, Morris Park hosted two additional significant 1905 auto race meets held in June and July.