Key changes to The TAB Eureka

THERE are two key enhancements to the 2024 TAB Eureka.

In the days after mighty mare Encipher won the inaugural running of the $2.1million race at Club Menangle last September, Harness Racing Australia promised a full review.

“We were open about that,” HRA CEO Andrew Kelly said. “We wanted and sought feedback for all sections of the industry on what worked and what didn’t.

“A couple of things came out of it about the race itself and we’ve addressed them for this year.”

The major talking point was the distance, or more specifically the starting point of the race.

The race was run over 2400 metres last year, but will be cut to 2300m in 2024 as it is widely regarded the 2300-metre starting point is a fairer start for all runners on the front row, as opposed to 2400 metres advantaging those drawn middle to wide draws.

And that’s crucial given the attraction of running a three or four-year-old mare against the four-year-old “boys” is the “advantage” of a preferential barrier draw.

Having three and four-year-old mares contesting the race is vital to its continued growth.

Recently retired due to injury, Encipher’s barrier advantage certainly helped her cause.

The other “tinker” is an additional $10,000 in prize money for the fifth-placed TAB Eureka runner, which is additional  to the overall purse of the race, not re-allocated from elsewhere.

The second running of the $2.1million TAB Eureka – the world’s richest harness race – is set be run at Club Menangle on September 7.