Law enforcement expects to make several arrests at the annual Far Hills Race, which will be held at the 230-acre Moorland Farm in Far Hills NJ this Saturday, October 17.
This is the 95th annual Far Hills Race, an event that typically features races involving some of the most prolific thoroughbred horses in the entire world. At this year’s event, between 65 and 70 horses are expected to be involved in the races.
The Far Hills Race, also known as “The Hunt,” raises money for the Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in Somerville, New Jersey.
More than 31,000 people attended The Hunt last year. Many of the attendees used the NJ Transit system to get to and from the races. According to Guy Torsilieri, the chairman of the Far Hills Race Meeting Association, the Moorland Farm is “in close proximity to such major area roads as Route 287, 206, 202, and Liberty Corner Road, as well as being easily accessible by NJ Transit.”
In past years, the Far Hills Race garnered a reputation for attracting attendees who drink too much and get disorderly. There are often complaints about criminal behavior and underage drinking at the event.
Local officials responded by beefing up the police presence at the event and using metal detectors at the gates, as well as instituting rules that barred anyone from bringing their own alcohol to the Far Hills Races. County and municipal police officers were assisted by 100 NJ state troopers and members of a private security firm at the 2014 event.
Additionally, the NJ Transit prohibited alcohol on all trains traveling to Far Hills, New Jersey. Police officers also made sure to closely monitor all “party buses” that parked at the site’s parking field.
Despite the steps taken by the race organization in charge of the event and local officials tasked with providing security, police still made a number of arrests last year. In 2014, law enforcement arrested 44 people for various offenses, including 20 charges of public urination. Several other individuals were charged with disorderly conduct, public nuisance, underage possession of alcohol, simple possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, trespassing, and destruction of property.
Event organizers said that there will be several hundred police officers at this year’s Far Hills Races. With more than 30,000 spectators anticipated, it is likely that law enforcement will be making several arrests this year.
The Tormey Law Firm has handled numerous criminal cases from the Far Hills Races in the past. We have successfully represented clients charged with disorderly conduct, urinating in public, and possession of an open container of alcohol, as well as other criminal offenses and municipal violations. If you have been charged with a crime while attending the Far Hills Race, it is imperative that you speak with a qualified criminal defense attorney who can make sure you don’t end up with a criminal charge on your record. Call the Tormey Law Firm now to discuss your case or schedule a free consultation at one of our conveniently located offices in New Jersey.
