Fairplex to move horse racing

Horse racing at Fairplex in Pomona is no more.

Starting this fall, the races normally held at the Los Angeles County Fair will be moved to the Los Alamitos Race Course, pending approval of the California Horse Racing Board, according to Fairplex officials.

James Henwood, Fairplex’s chief executive officer, announced the move Monday along with Los Alamitos officials and members of the Arcadia-based Thoroughbred Owners of California.

This year’s Los Angeles County Fair will run from Aug. 29 to Sept. 28, with the 12 days of horse racing scheduled for Sept. 5 to Sept 21. The state horse racing board is scheduled to meet Friday in Berkeley, but there is nothing on its agenda regarding Fairplex.

Horse racing fans will still be able to watch the races and place bets at the Finish Line Sports Grill, a satellite wagering facility on White Avenue at the north end of Fairplex, said Michael Chee, Fairplex’s marketing director.

Los Alamitos Race Course, which is in Cypress, is better equipped to accommodate horse racing than Fairplex even though it means moving the races from Los Angeles to Orange County, Chee said.

“They have a one-mile track and the whole facility is being upgraded.” Chee said in reference to a $3 million improvement and expansion plan of the race track that started late last year. “Los Alamitos is better equipped to handle everything.”

The racetrack probably will host more entertainment at this year’s fair, and the infield will still be used for private events, but long-term plans for the facility have not been decided, Chee said.

So far, response to the proposed loss of horse racing at Fairplex has been low-key.

“There’s been some reaction, but I wouldn’t say it’s been overwhelming,” Chee said. “Change is always difficult for some people.”