The Australian Racing Board (ARB) was established in June, 1998. The precursors to the ARB were the Australian Conference of Principal Racing Clubs (ACPC) and the National Office of Australian Racing (NOAR). The ACPC was a meeting of the Principal Clubs – held at Easter in Sydney and during the Spring Racing Carnival in Melbourne – which can be traced back to the early 1900s. The NOAR was established in 1990 to provide a secretariat for the ACPC.

In 2003 the ARB was incorporated and the Australian Racing Board Limited (ARBL) then became constituted as a company limited by guarantee. It is a not-for-profit organisation with objectives that are concentrated on developing, encouraging and promoting the sport of thoroughbred racing throughout Australia .