The dual-code meeting has been in the pipeline for the past year as the Beaumont Racing Club searched for a suitable date after having its annual meeting shifted around several dates over the past 10 years.
The club's meeting was held in May last year, but plans were already afoot to secure the Otago Anniversary Day date, president Phil Williams said.
''Last year, we tried to have two trots on our programme and we weren't allowed to do that,'' Williams said.
''We were allowed to have two non-totalisator races as a taster, but the weather put a stop to that - the track was far too wet.
''So this year we thought: Why not go the whole hog and have a dual-code meeting?''
The idea suited the Forbury Park Trotting Club, which was looking for ways to work in with other clubs in the region.
''We were looking for new initiatives to promote harness racing in the Otago area, and we were looking for partnerships and to work more strongly with the galloping clubs,'' Forbury Park general manager Zelda Jordan said.
''We haven't had a race meeting of any sort on our Otago Anniversary Day, so it's quite good to have a product we can encourage the community to come to.
''There are a lot of people who are passionate about one code or the other, so if we get them to both, we might share some interest.''
Williams agreed about the benefits of combining the two codes, and hoped the weather would play its part as well.
The eight thoroughbred races and six harness races will be held alternately, with
25 minutes between races. ''We've got over 20 stalls with food and craft and we're going to set up a market alley,'' Williams said.
Williams said racegoers could bring their own picnic.
''It's just a really good day out and cheap entertainment - children are free and it's $5 for others.''
- Racing starts at noon.
