How to have a successful Far Hills Race

The Facts

Location: 230 Acre Moorland Farm, Far Hills, NJ
Attendance: 35,000
Arrests: 37
Public urination arrests: 25
Philanthropic proceeds: Over 18 million dollars raised since 1950 to the Somerset Health Care foundation

One of the most extravagant events to take place in the sleepy Northern New Jersey town of Far Hills, the Far Hills Race Meeting, commonly referred to as the Hunt, is epitome of class and debauchery all taking place in the same 230-acre field.

Far Hills is a dry town (one where alcohol cannot be sold) and has a current population of a staggering 919 people. Yearly crime rates in Far Hills come to a grand total of 10 incidents a year (excluding the Hunt), making October 17th a very exciting day in the world of the Far Hills Police Department.

The town population grows about 35 times its size between the hours of 8AM and 5PM on October 17th. Racegoers report well before the first 1PM race, eager to set up tailgates of booze and burgers, clad in Ralph Lauren, Barbour, Patagonia, L.L. Bean, Vineyard Vines, Hunter and Burberry. Attire epitomizes New England Prep and one will be aggressively judged for reporting in anything less.
Hot off of the heels of this year’s debacle here’s what to know for next year:

1) Please, please just wait in line for the Porta Potty. Of the 37 arrests made at this year’s affair, 25 of them were for public urination. Just save yourself the trouble and wait in the damn line.

2) If you don’t have bails of hay or an ice luge at your tailgate, you’re not doing this correctly. If you didn’t pay upwards towards $175 on a block of ice to be contaminated by the lips of strangers who are drinking the alcohol you paid for, why even come?

3) Don’t even think about wearing something that doesn’t contain some variety of plaid or costs less than a Macbook Pro.

4) Raybans and Persols only… leave the knockoffs at home.

5) Plan to witness the NJ’s private high school student population encounter their darkest hours. For most, the Hunt serves as a sort of initiation into the world of alcohol and outdoor sports — and what an initiation it is.

6) Plan on ruining your shoes, but also still plan on wearing your best shoes. It’s not like your parents won’t just buy you new ones anyway, right?

7) Know that you will not witness any horse races. You will be far too intoxicated. Apparently seven races go on all day long. Really, these just become a major inconvenience because you can’t cross the track to enter the infield (where all of your drunken college friends are congregated) while the races are going on. Laaaaaame.

8) Prepare yourself to go to war for the damp deli sandwich you tried to steal from a stranger’s tailgate. It may or may not save your life.

9) If you didn’t receive an official invite to one of the many corporate tailgates, you better plan on doing your best job of acting sober enough to look like you could fit in. These spreads are on par with Kimye’s catered wedding reception.

10) Be smart and safe. Don’t drink and drive. Buy your train ticket home in advance and follow the crowd of staggering drunks to the Far Hills Train station.