While there are a number of series within the industry that involve drivers from different districts and states going head-to-head, Bathurst Harness Racing Club’s chief executive Danny Dwyer believes a battle between two clubs is a first.

“No, I don’t think this has happened before,” Dwyer said.

"We'll host three races here this year and then it will be the same thing in Bendigo next year, our drivers will go down there.

"It's a good opportunity to see the best of the best and create a bit of interest within the industry.”

The inaugural Bendigo-Bathurst Drivers Invitational will become yet another link between two harness racing clubs that already have a good bond.

"We've built up a relationship with the Bendigo Harness Racing Club, it's a sister relationship. From what I understand, we are very similar towns in terms of size and history,” Dwyer said.

"Originally it was meant to just create the opportunity for members of Bendigo and Bathurst to visit each others' track at reciprocal meetings. They would come up here for our Gold Crown Carnival and we'd go to their Bendigo Cup meeting.”

The inaugural edition of the series, will see five drivers from each club contest three races.

Points will be allocated for each of those races, with 10 for first, nine for second, eight for third and so on.

Bendigo’s line-up includes Chris Alford, the most successful driver in the history of Bathurst’s Gold Crown Carnival, Greg Sugars, who has driven more than 2,000 career winners, Kate Gath, Josh Duggan and Ellen Tormey.

But Bathurst’s representatives – Steve Turnbull, Amanda Turnbull, Bernie Hewitt, Mat Rue and Todd McCarthy – are formidable rivals.

"It's worked out really well with the quality of drivers that are coming. We've been able to get Amanda, Todd and Matt, a couple of the younger ones, then Bernie and Steve who has driven at the Inter Dominion,” Dwyer said.

"We are very lucky in Bathurst we've had such a good group of talented drivers to chose from, there are some other very good drivers we could've had there as well like Luke [McCarthy].

"You've only got to look down the [NSW] premiership to see how talented these drivers are.

"There's not a trainer who wouldn't be keen to nominate a horse for this race.”

The series will also be a boost for trainers, as it is open to those who have not picked up more than one win so far this season.

The races will be run con

secutively as part of the Bathurst meeting, the first to jump at 7.13pm.