Many fine traditions simply can’t pass the test of time, but the Far Hills Race Meeting is a happy exception.
Started by the Essex Fox Hounds as a thank you to farmers who let the hunt ride across their land, the races in New Jersey’s Somerset Hills have grown from a local event attended by a few hundred people to a nationally televised attraction that brought approximately 30,000 people to Moorland Farm Saturday.
Attendance was not affected by the chill and grayish skies, but when the sun came out for the last race, it almost seemed to happen as an affirmation of Far Hills’ success.
The meet offers North America’s richest day of steeplechase racing, with $839,000 in purses. The highlight was the $300,000 Grade 1 American Grand National “the sport of kings hurdle stakes” that dates back to 1899 and has been run in a variety of locations, including Fair Hill, Md., and Charlottesville, Va.
It was won by the same Irish trainer who took the top placing last year. That’s Gordon Elliott, but this time it was Western Fold from his stable at even money, artfully ridden by Jack Kennedy, who triumphed in an oh-so close finish over French-bred Fil Dor (9-1). Far Hills veteran Ricky Hendriks was listed as that horse’s trainer.
That’s American Grand National winner Western Fold a nose ahead of Fil Dor.
Zanahiyr, the 2025 winner (ridden then by Jack) was third. And it was the third year in a row for a tight run at the wire. The exciting closing moments made for good viewing on FoxSports, which broadcast the races
Jack said that Zanahiyr “ran disappointing” in Nashville in May. .
“Western Fold had “younger, fresher legs” which led to Jack’s decision about who to ride.
As it turned out, “the ground was a bit softer than usual, which was favoring Zanahiyr more than Western Fold, but I made the right decision anyway,” observed Jack. He headed straight to the airport after his win so he could make a plane to Ireland and ride at Limerick on Sunday.
Del Rio racing was a big winner, taking first place in the third race, first and second in the fourth race and second in the Grand National. Gigi Lazenby is the managing member of the Del Rio Chasers Syndicate team. Her father was one of the founders of the Iroquois Steeplechase in her home state of Tennessee, and she serves as vice president of the National Steeplechase Association.
Del Rio Racing’s Lizzie Twigg, ridden by Jack Kennedy, had the lead over the last hurdle in the Foxbrook and never gave it up.
While victory is always a happy occasion, of course, Gigi has more reasons to like Far Hills.
“This is a beautiful venue. Everybody is so nice to us. They put on great sport, it’s a great benefit for the hospital. Every time we come here, we have a wonderful time. Win lose or draw, it’s a great experience.”
Trainer Todd McKenna, who won the first race with Max Attack and the second with I Found My Jet, said that while he has come to Far Hills only “a handful of times,” he appreciates being there.
“This is the pinnacle,” he explained. “The turnout, the crowd is incredible; the purses are the highest in our sport. Those are two main reasons to come here.”
As good as the racing can be, what’s even better is that Far Hills has raised $22 million for the health care organizations that are its beneficiaries.
Melissa Kling and Heidi Cavanaugh enjoy the equestrian decor at a spread that graduated from tailgate to banquet.
Many new fans have found Far Hills in recent years, yet some of those who were part of the race day for most of their lives are still involved.
Ricky Hendriks was a little boy when he started pony racing at the venue, the home of the race meet since 1915. He went on to become a professional jockey and is now a trainer, showing his competence with a win by the Irish-bred Blue Waters in the $100,000 Grade 2 Peapack, named for the small town that borders Far Hills, an even smaller town. The first race, the Harry Harris, is named for a long-ago New Jersey trainer whose wife, Muriel Harris, went on to be a show secretary at many of the area’s local competitions during the 1970s and ’80s.
Joy Slater was on hand to present the trophy given for the Foxbrook Novice Hurdle Stakes in memory of her mother, Jill Fanning, who donated many hours to both the race meeting and the Essex Foxhounds.
A three-time winner over timber at Essex on Cancottage, Joy recalled that many years ago, she would ride in the amateur-owner jumper classes at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show, then head to Far Hills to assume her jockey identity. The demands of both competitions wouldn’t allow that today, but each of the sports has grown enormously since Joy was able to win in both on the same week.
While top horses from both sides of the Atlantic are a big part of Far Hills, in many quarters it’s just as well-known as a social event. Tailgating has always been a mainstay in the parking spaces handed down for generations in such families as the Bradys and the Lorillards. But beyond tailgating, big tables with fancy spreads have blossomed and become as important a reason to attend as the caliber of the horses.
Maureen Brennan, a former Somerset County resident who now lives at the Shore in Seaside Heights, hosts a reunion of sorts at the races.
Maureen Brennan with her son, Peter Marcano and his wife, Lauren.
“Friends, family, people we meet; we have people here we see once a year, they come in from California, Miami, Chicago, Philadelphia. It’s the same group. We see each other once a year,” said Maureen, who hosts 35-40 people, all of whom “bring something.”
They bet a couple of dollars among themselves (even though gambling on betting apps is permitted), stay overnight with Maureen and at a house next door to hers, then they take a party bus from the Shore to the races.
Far Hill Co-Chair Guy Torsilieri.
Maureen can rest assured that the races she has attended for a half-century will continue as long as she and her group want to come, because co-chairs Guy Torsilieri and Ron Kennedy have handed some responsibility to their children, George Torsilieri and Jillian Kennedy, who are now co-vice chairs. The idea is to insure the next generation will be ready to take over when their parents decide to relax.
Guy and Ron have been with the races for decades, as has the immensely valuable Priscilla Miller, the meet’s director of owner, trainer, rider services, who started in 1980 and used to take the horses’ saddle cloths home to wash them. She’s part of a big team.
“The levels of complexity to pull this off,” mused Guy, “it’s wild.” But he added, “I love it,” ever since he started at the races by mowing grass in 1979.
Ron, who first came to the races in 1976 with his family from their home in nearby Martinsville, thought back to what the meet was like then.
Far Hill Co-Chair Ron Kennedy.
“It was nothing compared to today. It’s a different thing. Never (in his early days there) would you think what it is today. We’re on four different TV stations this morning. It brings in people who are not part of the equestrian community and gets them involved.”
The objective no longer is just to “sell a ticket; it’s sell an experience,” Ron explained, then emphasized, “But we still want to keep the traditions.”
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