Large manuscript plan beautifully drawn in ink and watercolour: a unique witness to Vanderbilt's passion and ambitions. A member of one of America's wealthiest and most prominent families, William Kissam Vanderbilt (1849-1920) managed railroads and bred horses. He was one of the founders of The Jockey Club and the owner of a successful racing stable. In 1896 he built the American Horse Exchange at 50th Street (Manhattan). In World War II, the United States liberty ship SS William K. Vanderbilt was named in his honour.
The present impressive manuscript plan represents the horse-racing stable and track at the chateau, which Vanderbilt built in 1906, with the help of Henri Guillaume and Pierre Sardou, architects. The hippodrome comprised three oval tracks, the outer of which was 2400 metres, as well as a straight track. A long wall separated the racing areas from the Chateau St. Louis where the Vanderbilts lived, called the Chemin Plat, now known as Avenue Vanderbilt. When World War I started, the racing stables were shut down and eventually sold.