There was no tradition in Aarhus for horse racing and the only areas large enough to accommodate it as a spectator sport were two hilly.

In April 1923 local organizations requested Aarhus city council some of the newly acquired Marselisborg estate to establish a proper racecourse for horse racing.

Aarhus Stadium had been completed in the area in 1920 and a majority in the city council felt that the two facilities would complement each other.

[3] In the 1930s the racecourse was expanded and renovated a number of times, frequently with public funds from job creation projects initiated during the Great Depression.

In 1939 large concrete tribunes were built with offices and betting booths underneath and private spectator boxes.