The California city of Pomona, with a population approaching 150,000, is located in Los Angeles County in the Pomona Valley. The region was originally inhabited by the Tongva Native Americans prior to the first Anglo-Americans arriving in 1848. Pomona, named after the ancient Roman Goddess of fruit, was formerly incorporated on 6th January 1888. The Los Angeles County Fair boasts a rich history, opening a racecourse on 17th October 1922, while in 1933, when the track was known as Pomona Fair, it became the first Southern California racetrack to adopt pari-mutuel betting at its meeting on 1st September 1933. The 5 furlong oval track, with separate 7 furlong and 8 furlong chutes, share a 231 metre home straight. The track has offered thoroughbred races, quarter horse races and harness racing at various times in its history and introduced floodlit harness racing in 1986 when, by then, it had adopted the name Fairplex on 1st September 1986. However, Harness racing was part of the programme for a very short period and ceased in 1987. The principal race at the track was the Barrett’s Juvenile, but in 2014 the track closed for the final time. |
