NSW Oaks and Derby to be run over the mile

By Adam Hamilton 

Club Menangle has dropped a bombshell and divided opinions with some radical changes to its iconic Carnival of Miracles.

The biggest and most surprising move has been to cut the distance of both the New South Wales Derby and NSW Oaks to 1609m. Previously the Derby had been 2400m and the Oaks 2300m.

The $150,000 Group 1 NSW Derby will be run on $1million Miracle Mile night, March 14.

After a change last year, the $150,000 Group 1 NSW Oaks is run in tandem with the $200,000 Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II for mares at Menangle on May 2.

“Today’s breed is bred for speed and race times play an important role in the future value of our stallions and mares,” Menangle GM David Wonson said.

“Menangle was built specifically to enhance speed.

“Some of the iconic races here at Club Menangle have been conducted over the flying mile, including the first sub-1min50sec race time in the southern hemisphere by Smoken Up in 1min48.5sec, the 1min46.9sec by My Field Marshal in the 2018 Miracle Mile, and more recently the Len Smith Mile in 2025 won in a blistering 1min47.5sec by Cya Art, with six metres separating the first seven horses across the line.

“To complement the move to the Mile for the Derby, all races on Miracle Mile night will be conducted over the mile.

“The race distance changes will include the Lighthorse free-for-all (considered the Miracle Mile consolation) and the minor free-for-all, both moving from 2300m to 1609m.”

You can see HRNSW’s rationale as harness racing faces an ongoing fight for relevance and is criticised for a lack of innovation.

But many argue the definition of a Derby or Oaks is a staying contest.

This year’s Carnival of Miracles starts on March 7 with Australia’s premier four-year-old feature, the $200,000 Group 1 Chariots Of Fire (1609m) and heats of the NSW Derby.

For the Miracle Mile, qualification remains the same with only the winner of the $100,000 Group 2 Newcastle Mile (February 28) guaranteed a start.

The first two placegetters in the two qualifying sprints at Menangle on March 7 will also be guaranteed Miracle Mile spots.

The trotting feature of the carnival is the $100,000 Group 1 Hammerhead Mile on Miracle Mile night.