The series will see two nine-horse heats raced over 1200m early in the night before the top four qualifiers from each race and the fastest fifth placegetter make up a nine-horse final to be run as the last race on the night.
Shorter races have been tried in New Zealand before, most recently at Alexandra Park four years ago, but not with a final on the same night.
The Great Southern Star series for trotters was a success in Melbourne earlier this year with two heats and a final held on the same night, a concept that has long been in place for the Elitlopp in Sweden.
Club president Peter Gillespie said the idea came about during discussions with general manager Zelda Jordan and committee member-horseman Graeme Anderson.
''We threw ideas around how we could make a product that's more exciting, would utilise the existing horse pool better, and something that was unique and something we could tailor for Forbury.''
The expanded plan was to hold four eight-horse heats and a final, with 32 saddle cloths spread across the four heats, but after the idea was rejected by Harness Racing New Zealand, the club tweaked it to the two-heat format.
''We'll pilot it on December 13 and if it works, we'd tweak and expand it and make it a feature of the winter festival next year.''
Gillespie said the two heats for 4yr-old and older one-win pacers would be run for $5000 each with an $8000 final, giving owners a chance of a share of $13,000 on the night.
''It will be an exciting product - they'll let them go at the top of the straight, there'll be a tactical burst for the lead and it will be on from there for one full lap.
''A lot of the racing at the moment becomes quite mundane.''
The club has gained sponsorship from Mitre 10 for the series and Gillespie, a veterinarian, said horse welfare should not be a problem.
''From a veterinary point of view, there will be a pool of horses more suited to this.''
