Lagos Race Course, now known as TBS (Tafawa Balewa Square), was originally a sports venue primarily for horse racing, but also featured areas for football and cricket. The land was donated to colonial authorities by Oba Dosunmu in 1859, who later developed the surrounding areas. In the 1970s, under the leadership of Yakubu Gowon, the government demolished the course to make way for Tafawa Balewa Square. During its prime, the race course was a hub for significant events, including the Empire Day parades. The horse racing track itself spanned about seven to eight furlongs, roughly equivalent to one mile.
In 1960, the course was redeveloped to mark Nigeria’s independence, symbolized by the lowering of the Union Jack.