The legal battle between an equestrian society and local governments over the Kin Race Track is finally over.
Image Credit: FILE PHOTO
January 17, 2019 - 12:18 PM
VERNON - The thunder of horses hoofs will not be returning to the Kin Race Track in Vernon, as a more than ten-year legal fight is finally put to bed.
Vernon city councillor Scott Anderson told iNFOnews.ca the City's lawyer had confirmed an appeal by the Okanagan Equestrian Society had been dropped.
In May 2018 the City of Vernon and the Regional District of the North Okanagan won a decade-long court battle against the Okanagan Equestrian Society. The society alleged it had been unjustly evicted from the racetrack land, which it leased from the city and the regional district after selling them the land in 2000.
The equestrian society appealed the decision, but Anderson confirmed that appeal had now been dropped.
Okanagan Equestrian Society spokesperson Ed Woolley confirmed to iNFOnews.ca that the appeal had been abandoned. Woolley said a notice to appeal was filed in 2018 after the society lost the case, but financial restraints saw the society abandon the appeal. Woolley estimated the court case cost the society around $100,000 and that an appeal could have cost another $50,000. The former vice president of the club said he was disappointed with the way the situation had ended.
Anderson said the city had no formal plans of what to do with the land but he personally thought the land would be a good site for a new swimming pool and athletic centre.
With no money earmarked for the site in this year's budget, Anderson said nothing significant would happen to the site this year.
The Kin Race Track dates back to 1893 and claims to be the oldest in Canada - a claim also made by a track in New Brunswick. The last Vernon horse race took place in 2013.
Find past stories on Kin Race Track here.
— This story was update at 4:52 p.m. Thursday, Jan 17, 2019 to include comment from Ed Wooley with the Okanagan Equestrian Society.
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