Adelaide Racing Club was a horse racing club which had its origins around 1870 but founded in 1879 in competition with the South Australian Jockey Club. The A.R.C. held their race meetings on the "Old Adelaide Racecourse" (later known as Victoria Park) which they rented from the Adelaide City Council, while the S.A.J.C. owned Morphettville Racecourse freehold.
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History
The A.R.C. was formed largely due to the efforts of C. J. Coates (6 January 1820 – 9 October 1889), a longtime secretary of the Royal Agricultural and Horticultural Society. and outgoing secretary of the S.A.J.C.
The club, through businessmen Bennett, Blackler, Ferry and Dr. Robert Peel, secured a 21-year lease from 1879 on the "Old Adelaide Racecourse" in the East Parklands from the Adelaide City Council. A totalizator was installed and bookmakers were charged 10 guineas to operate on the grounds.
Amalgamation
Numerous attempts were made to amalgamate the S.A.J.C. and the A.R.C.: