One of the must-attend events on the North American racing calendar, this year’s Far Hills Race Meeting is set for Oct. 18. Excitement is building for the one-day crown jewel of steeplechasing, held at the picturesque Moorland Farm in Far Hills, N.J., and a terrific card has been organized, anchored by the $250,000 American Grand National, a Grade 1 stakes.

Overall, Far Hills will host a six-race, all-stakes card worth $775,000 – an overall purse increase of $75,000 over 2024. The marquee event remains the American Grand National, held at 2 5/8 miles on the Moorland Farm course.

After a successful debut last year, the McDynamo Maiden Sweepstakes returns on the card. That 2 1/8-mile hurdle is named in honor of three-time champion steeplechaser and Racing Hall of Fame member McDynamo, known as “The King of Far Hills,” who won the Grand National five consecutive years (2003-2007) for owner Michael Moran. And the one flat race carded, the John Forbes Memorial Stakes, drew an exceptional group of turf veterans among the nominees who’ll attempt to add winning a two-mile race to their portfolios.

Details of the six-race card are below:

Race 1: $75,000 Harry E. Harris Stakes, held at 2 1/8 miles for 4-year-olds;

Race 2: $50,000 McDynamo Maiden Sweepstakes, held at 2 1/8 miles over hurdles for maidens. This race will have a “sweepstakes ante” of $1,000 for every horse entered, and another $1,000 for each horse provided by the Moran family;

Race 3: $100,000 Peapack Hurdle Presented by Subourbon Life, held at 2 1/8 miles over hurdles for fillies and mares 4 years old and upward;

Race 4: $150,000 Foxbrook Champion Hurdle Presented by FanDuel, held at 2 ½ miles over hurdles for horses 4 years old and upward;

Race 5: $250,000 American Grand National, held at 2 5/8 miles over hurdles for horses 4 years old and upward;

Race 6: $150,000 John Forbes Memorial Stakes, held at two miles on the flat for horses 4 years old and upward

Great storylines abound throughout the card. Snap Decision, who broke through with a career-defining win in the Grand National last October making his fourth start in the race, is among the nominees for this year’s big race as he returns at age 11 for a repeat bid. In the McDynamo Maiden Sweepstakes, 7-year-old gelding McLovin is slated to make his first start as a steeplechaser after earning more than $320,000 on the flat, including a win in the 2023 John Forbes Memorial at Far Hills.

This year’s John Forbes features a very competitive group among the nominations, including the 1-2 finishers in last month’s 1 ½-mile Presious Passion Stakes at Monmouth Park in September: Dripping Gold, a Shug McGaughey-trained gelding, and Hardspun Reason for ace turf trainer Graham Motion. Another interesting horse among the nominations is Magic Tap for new trainer Neil Morris. This 5-year-old would be making his turf debut in his 15^th career start and in a very difficult spot after running well on dirt with efforts such as a close runner-up finish in the 2024 Razorback Handicap and a fourth-place finish in the 2023 Pennsylvania Derby. Zarak the Brave is nominated to the John Forbes after competing over hurdles in 20 prior starts, highlighted by a runner-up effort in the Jonathan Sheppard Handicap in August at Saratoga.

The 2025 Far Hills Race Meeting promises to be a can’t-miss event, as always the event is a major fundraiser for local charities – this year’s recipients are Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset, Crossroads4Hope, Community in Crisis, LifeCamp, and Bonnie Brae.

Final entries for the six races will be drawn Oct. 13. For complete Far Hills race conditions and nominations, click here.

Visit farhillsrace.org to learn more about the Far Hills Race Meeting and to get tickets.

Visit the National Steeplechase Association website.