Sports journalism, like so many iconic industries, has somewhat involuntarily endured an exponential evolution in recent decades, and, particularly, recent years. 

In the ‘good old days’ there were rules. In the halcyon years, there was structure. 

Back then – with ‘then’ representing an undefined construct as this revolution was rendered via stealth, not force – sporting scribes followed similar rules to their more ‘serious’ contemporaries. 

Being right was infinitely more important than being first.

Accuracy superseded splendour.

And the journalist accepted their role as what one might call a consistent conduit. 

Never the hero, always the messenger. 

While many hold fast to such virtues, the gluttonous nature of sporting fans ultimately demands those previous principles – noble as they are – simply won’t cut muster. 

Marketing terms like ‘agile’ should, and do, make most self-respecting humans’ shudder. 

But sad it may sound, that very term applies when discussing media and broadcasting approaches across different sporting disciplines. 

On one hand you have pervasive products like AFL, NRL, NBA, NFL and some other acronymic sporting bodies which thrive across the globe that have subtly adopted the concept of ‘narrative’. 

Different folks will carry different opinions on this subject, but most dedicated zealots that religiously follow these gargantuan industries – locally or otherwise – care precious little for narratives. 

If your world shifts and shapes by whether Carlton, Manly, Miami or New York win or lose on a weekly basis, manufactured storylines about their seasonal journeys mean near on nothing. 

Harness racing, however, that’s a different yarn. 

While those that love the trots are probably more passionate about the game they relish than any other single sporting fanbase we – unlike the behemoths referenced above – need narratives to thrive. 

And fortunately, we have them in tonight’s inaugural edition of the world’s richest standardbred contest, The Eureka. 

For myriad reasons, harness racing was painfully slow to leverage slot racing’s many benefits. 

In retrospect, however, the results of said tardiness may represent more blessing than curse. 

Against significant odds, The Everest has courageously paved the path for races of this nature to garner unexpected respect in record time and greyhound racing’s Phoenix has only helped that cause. 

This means The Eureka, which isn’t Australasian pacing’s first crack at this concept, yet certainly it’s most ambitious, finds itself following triumphant footsteps. 

And, as outlined, it also delivers the narratives that smaller sports require to capture broader interest. 

Firstly, we have race favourite Leap To Fame, whose narrative is all about his Queensland bona fides. 

Then there’s Catch A Wave, this season’s mercurial Miracle Mile champ who races to the beat of his own drum. 

It doesn’t end there either. 

The Lost Storm symbolizes youth and excitement, the three-year-old wunderkind tackling older rivals while Captain Ravishing encapsulates the very nature of flawed genius and unlimited potential. 

Those that don’t live harness racing need these stories to engage. 

And, once they engage, the rest is up to us.