The Port Adelaide region of the city of Adelaide is on the port side of the city some 14 kilometres from the city centre. In the early part of the 19th century the port was particularly important in sending and receiving goods from the outside world. The port had its own racecourse, on Grand Junction Road, in the late years of the 19th century, with racing overseen by the Port Adelaide Racing Club which was founded in 1890. It held its first meeting on Monday 17th March 1890, with results from that inaugural meeting shown below.

Monday 17th March 1890
The Club opened its capital racecourse on this day, showing off a well laid track and first class going on a warm summers’ day. A crowd of 3000 witnessed Mr W Jenkins’s Dolly win the opening Local Handicap over 2 miles.
Local Handicap for 15 sovereigns over 2 miles
1. Dolly, a bay mare owned by Mr W Jenkins and ridden by McGowan
2. Brownie, aged gelding owned by Mr Dalziel and Mr Thompson
3. Charlie, grey gelding owned by Mr A Holman
Other races at the inaugural meeting were:-
Handicap Hurdle over a mile won by Reporter owned by Mr Thomas Kaln
Port Adelaide Cup over 1 ¼ miles won by Masher owned by Mr J Agnew
Open Handicap over 3 miles won by Darkie owned by Mr W Smith
Flying Handicap won by Shootover owned by Mr W R Barnes

In the same year a second meeting took place on Saturday 27th September 1890:-
Port Adelaide Hurdle Race over 2 miles
1. Wallaby ridden by Mr D O’Brien
2. Tamanack ridden by Mr Goodie
3. Frivolity ridden by Reid
Betting: Evens Star, 4/1 Wallaby, 4/1 Glengarry
Other results on the same card were:-
2 Year Old Handicap over 4 furlongs was won by Herod ridden by Hodgkins 3/1
Flying Handicap over 6 furlongs won by Irish Queen ridden by Saunders 4/1
Port Adelaide Handicap over 1 ¼ miles
1. Wattle ridden by Joskins 2/1 fav
2. Pilgrim ridden by R Barker 5/1
3. Ivanhoe ridden by Forrester 5/2

Racing continued at this racecourse for the next 4 years, but the meeting was then transferred to Cheltenham Park where the Port Adelaide Racing Club leased the site. By 1921 the club had managed to purchase the course for £25,000. The PARC continued to administer the racing at Cheltenham Park until 1973 when they merged with the more influential South Australian Jockey Club, although within 2 years the Port Adelaide Racing Club was no more, as the SAJC took complete control.

Racing continued at Cheltenham Park until 2009 when it finally closed and the land was used for a housing estate and park.

ISBN 978-0-9957632-0-3

652 pages

774 former courses

ISBN 978-0-9957632-1-0

352 pages

400 former courses

ISBN 978-0-9957632-2-7

180 pages

140 former courses

ISBN 978-0-9957632-3-4

264 pages

235 former courses