THOROUGHLY OFF: Orange County Fair officials blame...

THOROUGHLY OFF: Orange County Fair officials blame the recession and off-track betting for their decision to drop thoroughbred racing from this summer’s lineup. . . . The fair’s 18-day meet, held at the Los Alamitos Race Course since 1977, started losing money four years ago, about the time off-track satellite wagering facilities began to pop up locally. The meet had once attracted as many as 150,000 people, but attendance had dwindled by 25% last year.

No Horsepower

The county fair board’s decision to drop thoroughbred racing is based partly on declining crowds. Peak attendance, 15,246, was in 1979.

‘91: 113,223

* Peak Year

Source: Orange County Fair Board