Tanforan Race Track's history

It was just a beautiful piece of flat land on the El Camino Real (San Bruno) in the middle of Rancho Buri Buri. And a perfect place for Toribio Tanfaran (original spelling) to race his horses in the 1800s, after moving his grazing cattle out of the way.

The popular and well-patronized race track at Ingleside, operated by the Western Turf Association, in western San Francisco, was closed in the 1890s to horseracing. A group of men from San Mateo County decided to build a track on the Peninsula in San Bruno. The first stands for the Tanforan Race Track were constructed facing west in 1899 on the east side of El Camino Real along the Southern Pacific railroad tracks. In 1903, the #40 Interurban trolley was built along the SPRR in San Bruno and carried patrons to the track. Trouble plagued the race track and betting was outlawed in the early 1900s. Automobile and airplane racing became the next sport on the Peninsula, with cars beating the planes which had trouble making the turns. The stands were torn down about 1918.

During World War I, the track was used as a training area. Wooden-floored tents were located in mid-field to house the troops.

In 1923, financed by Adolph R. Spreckles, a new, modern grandstand was built on the west side of the track (facing east), along El Camino Real which helped protect the audience from the strong westerly winds. Improved materials allowed the stands to be built without cumbersome I-beams blocking the view of the spectators. A large clubhouse decorated in Elizabethan style was built adjacent to the stand. High-heavy beamed ceilings and a great stone fireplace allowed the patrons to enjoy themselves while looking out of the huge windows that opened out over the race track. On opening day, the Hollywood movie star Mary Pickford made an appearance at the track. Pickford was at the height of her career and her presence generated a large crowd needed for a successful race day. Crowds didn’t last, however, because betting was still outlawed and after two 25-days seasons, the track stopped horseracing.

John Marchbank, a gambler from the Daly City area, bought the track in the late 1920s and reopened Tanforan Race Track in 1930. In 1933, legalized gambling (pari-mutuel) was instituted when Marchbank’s partner, Bill Kyne, led a movement to legalize betting at race tracks. Kyne later left Marchbank and started the Bay Meadows race track in San Mateo. In 1937 an equine event occurred that perked up the sports world — Seabiscuit, after three uneventful years of racing, was bought by Charles Howard and was stabled at Tanforan. Often ridden by jockey "Red” Pollard, this horse became a sensation on the West Coast race tracks and later traveled to the East Coast to thrill horsemen there with his exploits. Before retiring, Seabiscuit became the biggest money-winner in horseracing.

The Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. World War II began, and all race tracks were closed for the duration of the war. The Bay Meadows race track reopened later and contributed much of its proceeds from the track to the war effort. Tanforan race track was used for an entirely different purpose. Due to the hysteria and uncertain outcome of the war, all Japanese on the West Coast were ordered to be put in detention camps throughout the western states. Tanforan became a preliminary gathering area for over 4,000 Japanese-Americans subject to relocation as a result of Executive Order 9066. After the Japanese left, the U.S. Navy took over the facilities and used it as a naval base where sailors were assigned to Pacific Ocean fighting areas.

Following the war, Tanforan reopened and continued its racing schedule. Competition from other race tracks, the advent of television, and changing public recreational needs saw a steady downward trend of attendance at the race track. In 1964, after the racing season had been "scratched,” a fire started in the stands and spread quickly to engulf the entire stands and club house. Everything was destroyed.

This last event brought Tanforan’s legendary racing to the finish line. Tanforan would be reincarnated as a shopping center.

On your next shopping trip to Tanforan, notice the statue of a horse at the western entrance to the parking lot. In October of 1972, a 1,300-pound statue of the fabled Seabiscuit was installed, motionless now, frozen in time and bronze, but stirring memories of great races and of a horse who could move like the wind.