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The 102nd Far Hills Race Meeting

The Far Hills Race Meeting is a highly anticipated social and sporting event in New Jersey that has been taking place for almost a century. It has a devoted following of fans who come year after year to witness some of the world's best steeplechase races, catch up with loved ones, meet new people, contribute to worthy causes, and create unforgettable memories. The Far Hills Race Meeting has donated more than $20 million to support local healthcare organizations over the years. With its new pari-mutuel wagering system, the event is attracting new audiences, both locally and globally, and has the largest purses in the industry.

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Historical Reference of “The Hunt”

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 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 — a race that 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 — today known as Moorland Farm. Eventually becoming the Far Hills Race Meeting, the races have been continually run—with the exception of a short hiatus during World War II—on the same site.

The Far Hills Race Meeting currently offers some of the richest purses in America and is the host of the The Grand National steeplechase, the most prestigious race in American steeplechasing. Today, Moorland Farm is also home to the property’s second event, the Essex Horse Trials, a 2-day eventing weekend for riders and their horses to compete in a 3-phase competition including Dressage, Cross-Country and Show Jumping. To learn more, please visit essexhorsetrials.org.