Detroit Driving Club (Detroit, Michigan)

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In 1884 D.J. Campau founded The Detroit Driving Club for the purpose of promoting horseracing. Ten years later, the track, originally located in Hamtramck, was relocated to the Fairview area of the then Grosse Pointe Township. The new track hosted harness and sulky races as well as thoroughbred racing. The facility contained a 5,000 seat covered grandstand, a 3 story Victorian clubhouse, 17 barns and other related buildings.

Automobile racing began in October 1901 before a crowd of 8,000 when Henry Ford, driving the Sweepstakes, beat the pre-eminent race car driver of the day, Alexander Winton, in a head to head race. The resulting fame brought Ford money and backers and helped lay the foundations of the Ford Motor Company.

From 1901 to 1905, the track hosted auto racing as well as horse racing. After that date until 1911, the facility was used exclusively for horse racing. For a short period after that it was used for automotive testing until 1919 when it was developed as a residential subdivision.