New Date For Track Trial

The legal fight over use of Vernon’s Kin Race Track will take place this summer.

The civil trial between the Okanagan Equestrian Society and the City of Vernon has been rescheduled for July 24 to August 4 in New Westminster after being adjourned earlier.

Robyn Dalziel, society president, is pleased with the new dates.

“We have three lawyers that have to be available for ten days, so it could have been a year’s wait that we were looking at, so this is really good,” Dalziel tells Kiss FM

City officials say they are ready to proceed as well.

The two sides have been battling since the society was issued an eviction notice from the park seven years ago, with the city wanting to use the site for other recreational activities.

Dalziel says the track’s grandstands — which burned down three years ago – are now part of their statement of claim, a cause of the earlier delay.

“Now we have new court dates, they have their papers, they have time to answer the statement of claim, so it’s not going to be an issue at this next trial.”

Dalziel says they now have the support of the 24-thousand member BC Horse Council.

“Their position is that we need a new (equestrian) facility like this. That there isn’t anything in the province that can host regional finals, provincial finals.”