It is a crisp October morning in Somerset County. You’re standing in a field, mud probably caked on your boots, holding a plastic cup while a horse worth more than a suburban house thunders past at thirty miles per hour. This is the Far Hills Race Meeting. Most locals just call it "The Hunt." If you grew up anywhere near the 287 corridor, you know exactly what I’m talking about. If you didn’t, you might think a "hunt in New Jersey" involves camouflage and orange vests. Not here. Here, it’s about Barbour jackets, high-stakes steeplechase, and a massive amount of charity work that often gets overshadowed by the sheer scale of the tailgate parties.
Honestly, the name is a bit of a misnomer anyway. No one is actually hunting anything. There are no hounds chasing foxes through the brush of Moorland Farm. It’s a series of hurdle races, but the "Hunt" branding stuck decades ago and now it’s basically an indelible part of the Garden State’s cultural fabric. It's a weird, beautiful, sometimes chaotic collision of old-money equestrian tradition and college-aged revelry.
Why the Far Hills Race Meeting matters to NJ
The history isn't just fluff. It matters because it explains why this event is so massive. Back in the 1920s, the event started as a way for the Essex Fox Hounds to thank the local farmers for letting them ride across their land. It was a community "thank you." Fast forward a century, and it has transformed into one of the premier steeplechase events in the United States. We are talking about the Grand National of American hurdle racing.
But here’s the thing most people miss: the money. Since its inception, the Hunt has raised over $20 million for local healthcare charities, specifically the Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset. It’s a massive engine for philanthropy disguised as a giant outdoor party. People show up for the spectacle, but the community survives on the proceeds.
The chaos and the class of Moorland Farm
If you’ve ever actually been to the Hunt in New Jersey, you know it’s split into two distinct universes. You have the "rail" and the "backfield." On the rail, you’ll see the legacy families who have owned the same parking spot for forty years. They have silver platters, linen tablecloths, and catered spreads that would put a wedding to shame. It’s very Great Gatsby. Then, you move about fifty yards back, and it’s a sea of twenty-somethings in flannels and boots. It’s loud. It’s crowded. It’s a New Jersey rite of passage.
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The logistics are a nightmare, but a coordinated one. The Far Hills police and NJ Transit have to manage a surge that basically doubles the population of the area for twelve hours. If you’re taking the "Hunt Train" from Hoboken or Penn Station, you’re in for an experience. It’s basically a rolling party that terminates in a grassy field.
The actual racing (Yes, there are horses)
Don't ignore the athletes. The horses running the American Grand National are incredible. These aren't flat-track sprinters like you see at the Kentucky Derby. These are stayers. They have to run two and a half miles and launch themselves over solid fences. It is a grueling, physical sport.
- The Purse: We’re looking at some of the highest stakes in the sport.
- The Fences: These aren't those little plastic hurdles. They are substantial obstacles that require precision.
- The Turf: Moorland Farm is a natural amphitheater, which makes it one of the best places in the world to actually watch a race from start to finish.
What most people get wrong about the dress code
Look, you can wear whatever you want, but there’s an unspoken "uniform" for the hunt in New Jersey. If you show up in a three-piece suit, you’re going to look like you’re trying too hard. If you show up in gym shorts, you’re going to be cold and out of place.
The move is "functional prep." Think layers. It’s October in Jersey; it could be 70 degrees at noon and 45 by the time the last race finishes at 4:00 PM. Boots are non-negotiable. Not because of fashion, but because Moorland Farm is a working farm. If it rained three days ago, that grass is a swamp. I’ve seen countless expensive heels sacrificed to the mud gods. Don't be that person. Stick to Wellies or Bean Boots.
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Survival tips for first-timers
If you’re planning to head out this year, you need a strategy. You can't just wing it at an event with 30,000 people.
First, the ticket situation. Buy them early. They don't usually sell out of general admission, but the prices jump significantly as the date approaches. Second, the "no booze" rule on the train is real. NJ Transit usually bans beverages on the Gladstone Branch for the day of the Hunt. They will check.
Third, and this is the big one: cell service is non-existent. When you get 30,000 people in a rural valley all trying to upload Instagram stories at the same time, the towers just give up. If you lose your friends, you might not find them until the sun goes down. Pick a landmark—like a specific ambulance tent or a numbered pole—and agree to meet there at a specific time. Old school style.
The future of the event
There’s always talk about whether the Hunt can keep its character as it grows. There have been years where the "party" aspect got a bit too rowdy, leading to increased security and stricter rules. The organizers have done a decent job of reining it in lately, trying to pivot the focus back to the "Chairman’s Pavilion" and the high-end hospitality.
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They’ve also introduced parimutuel wagering, which changed the game. For a long time, you couldn't actually bet on the horses at the Far Hills Race Meeting. Now you can. It adds a layer of intensity to the finish line that wasn't there ten years ago. It’s not just for fun anymore; people have skin in the game.
Planning your trip to the Hunt
If you want to do this right, you need to act fast.
- Secure a spot: If you want a parking space (the "tailgate" spot), you usually have to know someone or get on a waiting list that’s years long. Most people just buy a General Admission ticket and wander.
- Transport: Take the train. Driving is a trap. The traffic on Route 202 and 206 becomes a literal parking lot by 11:00 AM.
- Food: Pack more than you think you need. There are food trucks, but the lines are legendary. Bring a backpack with sandwiches and water.
The Hunt in New Jersey is a weird, wonderful anomaly. It’s a day where the state’s agricultural roots and its high-finance wealth mash together in a muddy field. It’s loud, it’s expensive, it’s beautiful, and it’s very, very Jersey.
Next Steps for Your Trip
To make the most of the upcoming season, your first move should be checking the official Far Hills Race Meeting website for the exact date of the ticket release. Prices usually scale up in tiers, so buying in August can save you forty bucks compared to October. Once you have your ticket, download an offline map of the Far Hills/Bedminster area. Since cell towers will be jammed, having a pre-loaded map is the only way you'll successfully navigate back to the train station or find your designated driver in the dark. Finally, if you're going with a group, appoint one person to be the "Base Camp" coordinator who stays at a fixed location, ensuring no one gets lost in the signal dead zone.