RACE FANS CATCHING SWINE FEVER PIGS SET HEADY PACE AT VENTURA COUNTY FAIR.

Byline: Angela Randazzo Staff Writer

VENTURA - Out of the chute, and flying around the oval track come porkers with show biz names - Dennis Lardman, Pork McGuire and Porkquille O'Neal - in the All-Alaskan Racing Pigs competition at the Ventura County Fair.

In about seven seconds, on a good run, they can round the track, leap the hurdles and call it quits.

``Last year we watched the pig races, so we had to come back this year,'' said Diane Pettus of Ventura, who brought her 5-year-old son, Brayden, to the fair earlier this week.

``I got No. 5. I'm going to cheer,'' said Brayden.

The pig races have been part of the Ventura County Fair's attractions almost every year since 1998, when master of ceremonies Bart Noll brought his racing pigs to the West Coast.

The pigs are Yorkshire crosses and Berkshire crosses, which weigh 40-45 pounds and, according to Noll, make good racing pigs.

``They're fun animals. They're smart and not at all predictable,'' Noll said. ``They think for themselves and if they want to try something new, they'll do it.''

Before the race begins, tickets are distributed to each audience member with the number of one of the eight racers. Those with the number of the winning pig receive a pound of bacon compliments of the show's sponsor, Ralphs Grocery Store.

The race begins with four of the pigs shooting out of a starting gate and scrambling around an oval track. However, they don't always stay on the track. They dodge under the rails and even come out of gate backward.

As for the pigs, they have their own reasons for racing.

``The pig's incentive is cookies. Each week, the pigs get a choice,'' Noll said. ``This week we have animal cookies, last week it was chocolate chip.''

The top two winners of the first round compete against the winners of the second match for the title of top pig.

For those who can't get enough of the little porkers, the attraction includes a boutique with T-shirts, toys and bean bags - and a photo op with the racing pigs.

``I didn't know there was such a thing as pig races,'' said Rita Infuhr of Thousand Oaks. ``I'm an animal lover, so I thought I'd see how they're treated and what it's all about.''

The pig races take place daily through Aug. 10 at noon, 2, 4:30 and 6:30 p.m. in the Porker Flats arena.

Fair Facts

--WHAT: Ventura County Fair

--WHEN: Through Aug. 13

--TIME: Opens at 11 a.m. daily, exhibits close at 10 p.m.

--LOCATION: Seaside Park, Harbor Boulevard and Figueroa Street, Ventura.

--ADMISSION: $7 for general admission, $4 for children age 6 to 12 and seniors 55 and older, free for children 5 and under, and seniors 100 and older.

--DISCOUNT DAYS:

Tuesday - Free for seniors and people with disabilities.

Wednesday - Pepsi Family Day, $10 family admission admits two adults and all youths, with a coupon from Pepsi.

Thursday - Military Appreciation Day, free to all military personnel with a current military I.D. card.

--PARKING:

On-site parking is $5 per vehicle.

Free shuttle service from:

Government Center, 800 S. Victoria Ave.

Pacific View Mall, 3301-1 E. Main St.

Ventura High School, 2155 E. Main St.

Parking lot on the northwest corner of Harbor Boulevard and Schooner Drive.

San Buenaventura State Beach (parking is $5).

--METROLINK:

Fair service on Saturdays and Sundays from Chatsworth, Simi Valley, Moorpark, Camarillo and Oxnard. The last train from Seaside Park leaves at 10 p.m. Call Metrolink at [phone] for rates.

--ENTERTAINMENT:

Concerts are free, seating is first come, first served.

Grandstand Arena:

Foreigner, 7:30 p.m. Today.

Banda Maguey, Rogelio Martinez and Federico Villa, 3 p.m., Sunday.

Little Richard, 7:30 p.m., Monday.

Debbie Reynolds, 1 p.m., Tuesday.

Rick Springfield, 7:30 p.m., Tuesday.

Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, 7:30 p.m., Wednesday.

Tower of Power and WAR, 7:30 p.m., Thursday.

Kenny Chesney with Williams & Ree, 7 p.m., Friday.

Professional Cowboys Association Rodeo, 2 and 7 p.m., Aug. 12-13.

Also performing:

Firefall, 7 and 9 p.m., Sunday.

The Fabulous Drifters, 7 and 9 p.m., Monday.

A Blues Brothers Tribute, Rubber Biscuit, 7 and 9 p.m., Tuesday.

Mountain Music, 7 and 9 p.m., Wednesday.

A Creedence Clearwater Revival Tribute by Bad Moon Rising, 7 and 9 p.m., Thursday.

Common Sense, 7 and 9 p.m., Friday.

The Nelsons, 7 and 9 p.m., Aug. 12.

Chely Wright, 7 and 9 p.m., Aug. 13.

--INFORMATION

Call [phone] or [phone].

Web site: www.seasidepark.org or vcfair.org.

CAPTION(S):

3 photos, box

Photo:

(1 -- color -- ran in Conejo and Simi edition only) Pig racing fans Sherrie Damas and her 8-year-old son, P.J., get a kick out of the hustling hogs Friday at the Ventura County Fair.

(2 -- color in Conejo and Simi edition only) If your boss tells you he'll give you a raise ``when pigs fly,'' direct him or her to the fair, where speedy swine challenge the hurdles.

(3 -- color -- ran in Conejo and Simi edition only) With coordinating hats on, members of the Liddi family cheer on the porcine participants of the Ventura County Fair's pig races.

Joe Binoya/Special to the Daily News

Box: (ran in Conejo edition only) Fair Facts (see text)