The premier event at Far Hills on October 18th was the Grade 1 American Grand National Hurdle Stakes. The day’s racing events in New Jersey saw a remarkable performance by horses and jockeys hailing from Ireland.
Irishman Gordon Elliott, a trainer, achieved victory in all five jump races at Far Hills on Saturday, with each win guided by fellow Irishman Jack Kennedy. Elliott and Kennedy secured a dramatic victory in the American Grand National. Zanahiyr, running late, surged ahead to narrowly defeat another Irish contender, Ballysax Hank, in a close photo finish.
A $2 win wager on Zanahiyr yielded a payout of $6.60 as he triumphed in the $250,000 Grand National, a hurdles race spanning 2 5/8 miles.
Howyabud finished in third place, trailing behind the leaders. Snap Decision, the previous year’s American Grand National champion and the reigning Eclipse Award recipient for steeplechase horses, came in fourth. All participating horses carried an equal weight of 156 pounds.
Zanahiyr, an 8-year-old chestnut gelding with Irish origins, faced challenges early in the race during his first appearance in the United States. However, he adapted and grew more confident as the race progressed. With his American Grand National victory on Saturday, Zanahiyr secured his third consecutive win, following two earlier triumphs for smaller purses in Ireland during the summer season.
