Vernon race track facing hurdles

VERNON — There’s not much happening at the Kin Race track in Vernon these days.

The grandstand went up in flames this July in a fire that was determined an arson.

The Okanagan Equestrian Society (O.E.S.) has three suggestions for the race track.  Rebuild it, build an indoor arena with grandstand seating on the side, or move the track to a different location. 

Whatever plan is decided on, the society will have to go to the city.

“As you know the grandstand has burned down,” explains Vernon’s acting mayor Mary-Jo O’Keefe, “and since the city owns the land, the insurance money has gone to the city. The city has some obligation to fulfill it’s requirements, as per the land transfer,” she adds.

The land transfer agreement was signed in the 60’s, giving the city the land with several conditions that would allow the race track to remain.

Differences in opinion about the use of the land and maintenance issues have landed the city, the Regional District and the Okanagan Equestrian Society in a court battle, that’s so far, resolved nothing.

The dispute peaked this summer when the city demanded electrical upgrades be done at the track before the power could be turned on.
The Okanagan Equestrian Society argued the Regional District reneged on paying maintenance fees and couldn’t afford to do the work. Horse races were cancelled for the season.

“Both sides would like to come to some sort of a friendly resolve on this and that means we would need someplace for them to hold horse racing,” says Vernon’s acting mayor.

The O.E.S. president agrees. He would like to see the insurance money spent in a way that would increase usage of the facility, while maintaining the track.

“I like horse racing but we need to do other things with it,”  says Robert White, president of the Okanagan Equestrian Society, “until that happens we’re going to just keep fighting.  It’s crazy.”

No meetings between the city and the Okanagan Equestrian Society have been set up as of yet.