The first Interdominion for trotters was run on the grass track at Epsom by the Auckland Trotting Club in 1948.
The first series for pacers had been held in Perth in 1936.
Perth is the venue for the pacers for the 12th time next month and the first since 2004 when the final was won by Jofess, trained and driven by Darren Hancock.
A trotting series has not always been staged the same year as a pacing series. This is the 42nd trotting series.
One qualifying heat for trotters was held on the first two days of the series in 1948, a week apart with a Final a week later.
Aerial Scott, trained at Addington by Jim Young and driven by his son, Bob, won the final for the equivalent of a $5100 stake.
The same trainer and driver won the final of the next series with Gay Belwin at Addington in 1951 when two qualifying heats were staged on each of the first three days.
The next series was back in Auckland in 1955 with the final won by Battle Cry. The son of Light Brigade later won against pacers at the top level when trotting.
There was no series for trotters when the Interdominion was held in Christchurch in 1961, the next being at Dunedin in 1965. The winner at odds of 21-to-one was Poupette, trained and driven by Harry Cox, of Winton.
Charlie Hunter, the owner of Sovereignty, a candidate for the $A250,000 final at Melton on Saturday night, trained and drove Geffin to win the final at Addington in 1971. He also trained the 1975 final winner, Castleton's Pride in Auckland when completing a notable double in the final for pacers with Young Quinn. John Langdon drove both horses after Hunter fractured an arm in a race smash on the second night.
Mark Purdon, the trainer-driver of top qualifier this year, I Can Doosit, who drew 3, is attempting to repeat the final success of the pair at Alexandra Park last year.
He trained Pride Of Petite to win the final in Melbourne and Adelaide in 1996 and 1997 and the 1998 winner in Sydney, Buster Hanover.
Tony Herlihy drove Pride Of Petite in her second win when she came of a 40m handicap over 3075m. He also drove Buster Hanover.
Herlihy has also won the final with Delft (2006, Melbourne) and Diamond Field (1994, Sydney).
Gavin Lang, who has won finals driving True Roman (1988, Sydney), Game Bid (2002, Sydney) and Sumthingaboutmaori (2004, Melbourne), teams with Save A Sixpence this week.
Sundons Gift, the final winner in Melbourne and 2009 and 2010, is in the field on Saturday night.
Trainer Tim Butt and driver, Anthony Butt, who have combined to win finals with Lyell Creek (2000, Melbourne) and Take A Moment (2001, Brisbane and 2003, Christchurch) have Vulcan, who drew 8, a contender on Saturday night.
• Nathan Williamson is back driving Springbank Richard, who has drawn 9, in the Interdominion Final at Melton on Saturday night.
Williamson has driven Springbank Richard in his 20 wins. He drove the gelding to win a heat at Shepparton.
Springbank Richard subsequently finished second to Sovereignty in the heat at Ballarat with trainer Phil Williamson the driver.
Nathan is heading to Australia on Friday and, along with Anthony Butt, he will represent New Zealand in a three-race series for invited drivers at Mildura the same day.
The Fiery Ginga drew 5 in the final, Stylish Monarch 6 and Sovereignty 13.
• Smoken Up has been withdrawn from the Hunter Cup on Saturday night after being given a 30m handicap which his trainer Lance Justice said was too tough even over the 3280m.
Auckland Reactor, who will start from 10m, is favourite at $2.40. His stablemate Highview Tommy is also on 10m.
