Far Hills Race Meeting

The Far Hills Race Meeting traces its origins to the Essex Hunt, a fox hunting event founded in Montclair, NJ, in 1870. In 1913, the organizers of the Essex Hunt incorporated as the Essex Fox Hounds.

In the tradition of these clubs, the Essex Fox Hounds established an event to thank the farmers and landowners who allowed them to hunt on their property. The Farmer’s Day Race Meeting, as it became known, included the New Jersey Hunt Cup Steeplechase, which remains on the Far Hills Race Meeting card today.

In 1916, the event moved from the original club site to the Grant B. Schley estate, known as Moorland Farm. Today, Moorland Farm is also home to the property’s second event, the Essex Horse Trials, a 2-day event weekend for riders and their horses to compete in a 3-phase competition including Dressage, Cross-Country, and Show Jumping.

The National Steeplechase Association also become legal for pari-mutuel wagering by running the Far Hills meet under the license of Monmouth Park, the seasonal track in Oceanport, NJ. In addition, the New York Racing Association has joined with Far Hills to offer an all-stakes Pick 4, with bettors wagering on the winners of four consecutive races, two at Belmont Park and two at Far Hills.

Far Hills Race Meeting is New Jersey’s premier social and sporting event, the world’s finest steeplechases, and offers the largest purses in the industry. It hosts The Grand National steeplechase, the most prestigious race in American steeplechasing. It operates over 34 races each year from March through November. Moreover, it has also donated more than $18 million to support local healthcare organizations.

After the temporary cancellation of meetings at Far Hills due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the horse race returns in October 2021. Last year’s summer race was supposed to be the 100th meeting but was canceled due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The 100th edition was instead staged in 2021 at the borough’s Moorland Farms.