Along with pumpkin picking and fall foliage, the Far Hills Race Meeting is one of my favorite fall activities. Held on October 17th, 2015 at the beautiful Moorland Farm in Far Hills, NJ, the race draws a crowd of over 35,000 plus spectators. Considered one of the premier social outings of the year in New Jersey, the Far Hills Race brings our both the young and old to take part in both watching the races and the festivities along the sidelines.
Spectators create unique and often extravagant fall picnic areas in their reserved parking spots, replete with all the trappings of a fall festival including beautiful floral center pieces, carved pumpkin ice buckets, hay bale seating, ice carvings and culinary feasts.
The race meeting draws a highly competitive, international field of horses to compete in the day’s six races, which this year will feature a record total purse of $600,000. The day’s premier race is the Grand National, the country’s richest race with a purse of $300,000.
Open Road Auto Group has generously donated a new car to be raffled off on Race Day to benefit Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset. The winning ticket will be drawn before the day’s final race.
Since the 1950s, the event has raised more than $18 million for Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset, formerly known as Somerset Medical Center. In recognition of the support of the Far Hills Race Meeting Association – the hospital’s most generous benefactor – the hospital named its Steeplechase Cancer Center in the association’s honor.
With tickets ranging from $100 at pre-sale and $200 on race day, the benefits will go to the Somerset Health Care Foundation benefiting the Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital-Somerset in Somerset, NJ.
You can purchase your ticket here or the day of the event.