Union Race Course

{{Infobox Racecourse

| Name = Union Race Course

|Image= 270px

|Caption= 1857 Map of the Mission District showing the Pioneer and Union Race Courses (West at top of map). U.S. Coast Survey A.D. Bache, Superintendent. City Of San Francisco And Its Vicinity California. From a plane label survey by A.F. Rogers Sub-assistant. Verified W.R. Palmer Capt. Topl. Engrs. Asst. C.S. In charge of Office. Lith. of J. Bien 60 Fulton St. N.Y.

|Location= San Francisco, California,
United States

|Owner=

|Channel=

|Opened= 1850s

|closed= July 18, 1863

|CourseType =

|Website=

|NotableRaces =

}}

File:Mission District San Francisco 1850s.jpg

Union Race Course was a horse racing track opened in the 1850s in San Francisco, California located in the Mission District.{{Cite web|url = http://foundsf.org/index.php?title=Early_Development_Around_Mission_Bay,_1850-1857|title = Early Development Around Mission Bay, 1850-1857|website = Digital Archive @ FoundSF}} There were two horse race courses in the Mission District at this time, the other being Pioneer Race Course which was located a few blocks away. At the time it was planned to be built, no streets existed in this neighborhood but later it appears to be bound by 19th St to 23rd St and Capp St to Harrison St.{{Cite web|url = http://burritojustice.com/2009/01/29/mission-history-as-revealed-by-creeks-streams-lakes-and-lagoons/|title = Mission History as Revealed By Creeks, Streams, Lakes and Lagoons on Burrito Justice| date=29 January 2009 |accessdate = Sep 14, 2013}}

The half mile track was renovated in 1862, moved slightly to softer ground and renamed 'Willows Trotting Park'{{Cite web|url = http://cdnc.ucr.edu/cgi-bin/cdnc?a=d&d=SDU18611225.2.12|title = California Digital Newspaper Collection, Sacramento Daily Union, Volume 22, Number 3352, 25 December 1861|accessdate = Sep 14, 2013}} but the increasing value of the land for housing proved too much. The final horse race was run at Union Race Course on July 18, 1863.{{Cite web|url = http://www.sf-planning.org/ftp/files/Preservation/South_Mission/Shotwell_Street_Victoriana_comp.pdf|title = San Francisco Planning Department – South Mission Historic Resources Survey Historic District Description, Shotwell Street Victoriana|accessdate = Sep 14, 2013}}

The positioning of this race course, as well as the earlier built race course called Pioneer Race Course appear to have affected the placement of the San Francisco-San Jose Railway.