Tillamook County Fair
and Race Meet

Tillamook County Fairgrounds grandstand.

It was sunshine and standing room only for the final day of racing.

The Oregon Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (OTOBA) scheduled their August board meeting to coincide with the Tillamook race meet. OTOBA executive director Ursula Gibbons (center) visits with board members Betty McCaffrey (standing) and Carol Duby (in turquoise).

OTOBA board member Paul Hagemann stands for the playing of the national anthem.

The saddling paddock. The Tillamook Cheese company gave blocks of cheese to all of the participating owners. Halters and lead ropes were presented to the winners, in addition to blankets that were presented to the winners of the Slim Williams Memorial and the Jerry and Eileen Towslee Memorial Handicap.

Identifier Gloyd Whitmire also served as paddock judge and race starter.

Jockey Jaime Martinez.

Jockey Joe Crispin.

Jockey Darlene Braden

Jockey Nikeela Black.

Parade to post.

Warming up with the some of the fair rides in the background.

Starter Gloyd Whitmire prepares to signal the start of the race. The gate sent off full fields of six horses in each of the nine races: seven at about 5 furlongs, plus one at about 1 1/8 miles, all for Thoroughbreds, and one Quarter Horse sprint.

And they're off!

Coming down the backstretch.

Race announcer Dean Mazzuca. Mazzuca works for The Boeing Company during the week, but enjoys calling the races for some of the fair meets on weekends. Besides his race calling talents, he whistled the call to post for each race.

The mutuel windows. The meet offered $3 win, place and show bets, as well as $3 quinellas, trifectas and two daily doubles.

The jockeys' scale in front of the grandstand.

Weighing in after the race, with clerk of scales Lonnie Craig looking on.

The out rider and one of the stewards wait for the next race.

Between races, young athletes of all ages took part in western saddle competitions in the infield arena.

A new barn that had been built with hub funds was prominent on the backside.

One of the older barns on the sunny backside.

A comment to this gentleman that he had found a place out of the wind elicited the comment, "We're used to it. We haven't been blown away yet."

Two "iron horses" visited the barn area.

Call for race number ...

Ready to run.

Backstretch rail bird.

The out rider waits and watches as horses warm up on the backstretch.