Far Hills

The New Jersey Racing Commission on Wednesday approved a 2026 Thoroughbred schedule of 50 spring/summer dates at Monmouth Park and nine for an all-turf autumn meet at the Meadowlands, mirroring the state's allotment of racing days in 2025. A one-day steeplechase license for Far Hills in '26 is expected to be okayed by the commission at a subsequent date upon completion of local approvals. The exact opening and closing dates for the meets were not discussed at the Nov. 18 meeting. In the post-pandemic era, New Jersey's Thoroughbred dates allotments...

There likely aren't many, if anyone for that matter, involved in any meaningful way in the steeplechase industry in the U.S. that has not heard of Keri Brion. However, the 34-year-old is quickly making a name for herself with her flat stable as well, largely helped by a quintet of winners at Saratoga last summer, including Miztertonic (Mission Impazible), victorious at the Spa the past two seasons. On full display and getting to flex both muscles at Far Hills in New Jersey Saturday, Brion will saddle horses in five of...

   In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This week's column is highlighted by the victory of Aussie Girl in Lexington. Aussie Flair At Keeneland Woodford Thoroughbreds' Aussie Girl (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) triumphed in her second American start for trainer Will Walden at Keeneland on Oct. 17 (video). Bred by Airlie Stud, the chestnut won the Listed Brigids Pastures Stakes and was placed in the G3 Ballyogan Stakes last year. Sold for €35,000 by her breeder at Goffs Orby to...

Trainer John 'Shark' Hanlon was reduced to tears upon receiving his Eclipse Award on behalf of America's Champion Steeplechaser Hewick (Ire) (Virtual {GB}) and even labelled the evening as "the biggest night of my life." The County Kilkenny trainer sent out Hewick, a horse he famously bought for just €850, to win the American Grand National at Far Hills last October.  Hewick wins the Steeplechase Horse Eclipse Award.@NTRA pic.twitter.com/kjcPrIDDxm — John Hanlon Racing (@jhanlonracing) January 27, 2023 Hanlon made the trip over to America for the awards ceremony where he...

As someone who worked tirelessly throughout his career to promote New Jersey racing, first as a trainer then as a horsemen's rep, John Forbes no doubt would have liked what's being offered Saturday at the Far Hills hunt meet in the race named in his honor.  The John Forbes Memorial is worth $100,000, has attracted an evenly matched field of 14 and, run at two miles on the flat, is at a distance that makes it a handicapping puzzle. The Forbes Memorial is among the highlights on a card that...

The Far Hills steeplechase race meet will honor the late John Forbes--a fixture at Monmouth Park where he trained for 40 years--with the first John Forbes Memorial Race during its six-race program Oct. 15. The 101st Far Hills Race Meeting will offer $575,000 in purses for the six races at Moorland Farm in Far Hills, N.J., highlighted by the $250,000 Grade 1 Grand National. The John Forbes Memorial, the only flat race on the program, will be contested at two miles on the turf. It will go as the final...

The Far Hills Race Meeting Association has increased the purse of the American Grand National by $100,000, giving it a bump from $150,000 to $250,000 for the 2022 edition, which will be held Saturday, Oct. 15. The increase will make the race, which will be contested for the 101st time, the richest on this year's National Steeplechase Association (NSA) schedule. "This will really put an exclamation point on steeplechasing's biggest day and the overall season," said Far Hills Race Meeting chairman Guy Torsilieri. "On Oct. 15, all eyes will be...

John T. Von Stade, the longest serving president of the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame from 1989-2005, passed away Nov. 25 at his home in Lutherville, Maryland. He was 83 years of age. Born June 28, 1938, in Old Westbury, New York, von Stade graduated from St. Paul's School in Concord, New Hampshire, and Harvard University, pursuing a passion for music while participating in and managing the choir at St. Paul's and the glee club at Harvard. After attending the Aspen School of Music and a stint...

Guy Torsilieri, the president of the National Steeplechase Association since 2009, will step down from that role at the next meeting of the Board of Directors on Jan. 17, according to a press release from the NSA. A business owner and chairman of the Far Hills Race Meeting, Torsilieri said he will continue as a member of the Board of Directors and will remain active in the affairs of the NSA. "I concluded that, as we embark on a new decade, it was a good point to turn over the...