Officials crack down on Far Hills Annual Steeplechase Race

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The biggest event that takes place in Northern New Jersey is better known as The Hunt in Far Hills. But some say it has gone too far. Now, authorities are stepping in.

Officials at 95th annual Far Hills Race Meeting promised to crack down on excessive drinking this year after the event started getting more attention for the wild behavior of infield spectators than for the steeplechase race itself.

The race raises millions of dollars for the Somerset Health Care Foundation and Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset.

However, tailgating and drinking, sometimes started 8 a.m., have led to a rise in inappropriate behavior, officials said.

The association has taken several steps to curb alcohol consumption.

"We made strides, but we still have a ways to go," said Guy Torsilieri, chairman of the Far Hills Race Meeting Association, “We've stopped alcohol from being delivered on the trains, we stopped people bringing it in from general admission.”

In the end there were 37 arrests at Saturday's event, compared with 36 last year. But there were 55 in 2013.