Track Fight Goes To Court

A court case will begin next month to settle the long running dispute over access to Kin Race Track in Vernon.

The Okanagan Equestrian Society wants to keep it for horse racing, while the City of Vernon and Regional District of North Okanagan have plans to use it for other recreational venues.

Robyn Dalziel, the president of the society, feels they have a strong case.

“I have talked to numerous lawyers that know the case and every single one of them says with those covenants on the property, we really don’t have any worries,” Dalziel tells Kiss FM.

Dalziel says they are selling $250 debentures and using a GoFundMe account to raise $50,000 to cover the cost of witnesses having to fly to Vancouver for the case, fees the society agreed to cover as part of a deal with a law firm made in 2004.

“It’s like a bond. And upon us being successful in our lawsuit, the debentures would be paid back with five percent interest.”

The trial will start March 13 in New Westminister, and is scheduled to last ten days.

The last horse racing at the 43rd Avenue site was in 2013, and an arson fire destroyed the grandstand a year later.

The society was evicted from the track seven years ago by the regional district and city.

Vernon Mayor Akbal Mund told Kiss FM earlier, the city has tried to “do the right thing” and settle the issue outside of court, but was unsuccessful.

He says the city has budgeted a certain amount of money for the legal fight, but wasn’t aware of the exact figure.