The matter of the future use of Kin Race Track is going to the courts.
The City of Vernon has asked its lawyers to ask the courts to determine the future land use of Kin Race Track and whether there is an inherent obligation to use the land as a race track.
“This comes after the city made two offers to the Okanagan Equestrian Society and both were rejected,” said City of Vernon communications officer Tanya Laing Gahr.
The Okanagan Equestrian Society declined to comment on the matter Friday.
The city and Regional District of North Okanagan, which owns the 100-plus-year old race track property, evicted the equestrian society on Dec. 31, 2010.
The society took both organizations to court, claiming equestrian activities were guaranteed when most of the track was turned over for free to the city.
The society has also claimed the regional district ignored an agreement for lease renewals.
That matter remains before the courts.
In February 2016, the city issued a statement confirming it was in negotiations with the equestrian society and the Vernon Jockey Club concerning the ongoing litigation.
Horse racing began at Kin Race Track in the late 1800s with the Vernon Jockey Club formed in 1893 to hold professional horse races.
Races were held yearly until 2014 when the track’s grandstand was destroyed by a fire.