Key changes to 2024 TAB Eureka

THERE are two key enhancements to the 2024 TAB Eureka.

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

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

“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 2400m last year, but will be cut to 2300m in 2024.

Why?

It’s widely regarded the 2300m starting point is a fairer start for all runners on the front row, as opposed to 2400m advantaging those draw middle to wide draws.

 Slot holders celebrate winning the World’s Richest Harness Race.

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

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

Encipher won as a four-year-old mare last year and her barrier advantage certainly helped her cause.

The other “tinker” is an additional $10,000 in prize money for the fifth-placed TAB Eureka runner.

That’s additional $10,000 to the overall purse of the race, not reallocated from elsewhere.

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