OH, SAY CAN YOU SING? FAR HILLS RACE MEETING ANNOUNCES NATIONAL ANTHEM CONTEST IN CELEBRATION OF AMERICA 250
Submissions to Audition Now Open, With One Winner Chosen to Sing the National Anthem at the 105th Running of The Hunt on October 17th at Moorland Farm
FAR HILLS, NJ (May 1, 2026) – The Far Hills Race Meeting Association (FHRMA) is now accepting entries for its Oh, Say Can You Sing? national anthem singing contest, offering one winner the chance to perform “The Star-Spangled Banner” in front of tens of thousands of racegoers at the 105th running of The Hunt - the nation’s premier steeplechase horse racing event - on October 17th at Moorland Farm. In celebration of America 250, the contest is open to singers ages 16 and older from New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania, with initial submissions due June 1st. To enter, applicants should visit https://farhillsrace.org/oh-say-can-you-sing/.
With its longstanding commitment to supporting healthcare across the region, and with a specific focus on elevating cancer awareness and care alongside Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJUH) Somerset at the Steeplechase Cancer Center, the FHRMA felt it was fitting to ask that contest applicants have a personal connection to cancer, submitting in honor of their own fight, or a family member or loved one currently battling the disease, that has overcome it, or in their memory. Entries will be narrowed down, with finalists invited to perform their renditions of the national anthem at a live performance on June 25th at the Steeplechase Cancer Center at RWJUH Somerset, in Somerville, NJ.
“Few songs carry the power and pride of ‘The Star-Spangled Banner,’ and we can’t wait to discover the voice that will lead it next at Moorland Farm this October,” said Ron Kennedy, Chairman of the Far Hills Race Meeting Association.
“But Oh, Say Can You Sing? is about more than a singing competition - it’s a tribute to the courage, resilience and sacrifice behind every cancer journey. We’re honored to hear the stories that accompany these submissions and to partner with RWJUH Somerset and an outstanding panel of judges on June 25th to select this year’s winner.”
For over a century, the Far Hills Race Meeting Association has partnered with RWJUH Somerset to help deliver exceptional care for patients across the county and the region. Through RWJUH Somerset’s partnership with Rutgers Cancer Institute - the state’s only NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center - patients can access leading-edge treatment options, including clinical trials. In recognition of the association’s longstanding generosity, and more than $22 million dollars of donations, the hospital’s state-of-the-art Steeplechase Cancer Center and Behavioral Health Unit bear its name. Most recently, in 2025, the association announced an additional $1.25 million commitment to the Steeplechase Cancer Center’s Far Hills Race Meeting Association Oncology Patient Assistance Fund, which provides vital support for cancer patients, specifically those facing financial hardship.
“We are proud to partner with the Far Hills Race Meeting Association to bring back this contest in conjunction with our nation’s 250th anniversary,” said Deirdre Blaus, Chief Administrative Officer, RWJUH Somerset. “The Far Hills Race Meeting Association is our hospital’s most generous benefactor and has made a lasting impact on the health of generations of families in our community, particularly those with cancer. We look forward to hearing the contestants’ heartfelt stories and powerful voices as they share their singing talents with us.”
The 105th running of the Far Hills Race Meeting, sponsored by Open Road Auto Group, will take place on Saturday, October 17th. Since its inception, it has raised over $22 million for local healthcare to date, and will support five worthy beneficiaries in 2025, including RWJUH Somerset, Crossroads4Hope, Community in Crisis, LifeCamp and Bonnie Brae.
For tickets, details and more, visitwww.farhillsrace.org or call (888) 516-5554. Stay up to date on Race Day by signing up for the email list or following onFacebook orInstagram.
About The Far Hills Race Meeting
The Far Hills Race Meeting, a 105-year-old premier social and sporting event in New Jersey, attracts diverse spectators year after year. It showcases the world's finest steeplechase races, fosters connections with loved ones, supports worthy causes, and creates cherished memories. Sanctioned by the National Steeplechase Association, Inc., the event offers the largest purses for Steeplechase races in the United States, pari-mutuel wagering in partnership with Monmouth Park, global live streaming and “America’s Day at the Races” is aired on Fox Sports in partnership with NYRA and Monmouth Park. For more information, visit www.farhillsrace.org.
About Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset
Located in Somerville, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJUH) Somerset, an RWJBarnabas Health hospital, is a nationally accredited, 343-bed regional hospital providing comprehensive emergency, medical/surgical, behavioral health and rehabilitative services to central New Jersey residents. As a designated teaching hospital of Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, the hospital maintains a family medicine residency program with 21 residents.
RWJUH Somerset has earned significant national recognition for clinical quality and patient safety including the prestigious Magnet® Award for Nursing Excellence.
The Steeplechase Cancer Center at RWJUH Somerset is accredited by the American College of Surgeons’ Commission on Cancer. RWJBarnabas Health and RWJUH Somerset together with Rutgers Cancer Institute - the state's only NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center – provide access to the most advanced treatment options including clinical trials, cellular therapies, and precision medicine, close to home. For more information, visit www.rwjbh.org/somerset.