By Don Urquhart, Times Chronicle
Competitive harness racing in the Okangan Valley is making a major rally in Osoyoos with the launch of Desert Park Raceway for the fall 2026 racing season.
In a statement, the Desert Park Exhibition Society (OPES) said an agreement has been reached between itself, the Western Canada Horse Racing Association (WCHRA) and the Town of Osoyoos to bring a return of competitive harness racing to Osoyoos.
Pending final regulatory approval, the track plans to host 20 race cards in the fall of 2026, targeting a mid-September launch. “Horsemen [people who ride, manage, or breed horses] will have plenty of incentive to compete, as the upcoming race meet will offer some of the highest average daily purses in Western Canada,” it noted.
“We are absolutely excited to welcome WCHRA and become the new home of harness racing in British Columbia,” said Rebekka Lim, President of the Desert Park Exhibition Society.
“Desert Park has a rich history as an equestrian hub, and this racing program is a perfect addition to the horse-centric activities we host on the property all year round. It’s a huge win for our facility and for horse lovers across the province.”
The last time the racetrack at Desert Park saw any harness racing action was in 2014 when it first debuted at the track with a special multi-breed racing card, packing the stands with spectators according to Times Chronicle reports of the day.
In the summer of 2016 organizers put forward a proposal to bring a full slate of harness races to Desert Park but was turned down by Harness Racing British Columbia, after their board of directors voted not to support it citing high costs, insurance and lack of confirmed horses as reasons.
Kelly MacMillan, President of the WCHRA said the organization is “thrilled” to bring harness racing back to Osoyoos.
“The South Okanagan climate is going to be absolutely ideal for horse racing in the fall. Because this association is run by horsemen for horsemen, we are deeply committed to safe, competitive racing that will put on a spectacular, customer-focused show for the fans while building a secure future for our sport.
“We appreciate the incredible support from DPES and the Town of Osoyoos to make this dream a reality.”
Meanwhile the WCHRA has completely rebuilt the property’s 5/8ths-of-a-mile racetrack surface specifically for high-caliber harness racing. According to the WCHRA the newly designed homestretch was built to maximize the stretch drive, spanning an 810 ft. (246.8m) in length.
It went on to note that 5/8ths tracks typically feature a stretch run between 400 and 600 ft, making the Desert Park Raceway stretch one of the absolute longest of its kind in North America, “which will produce some exciting racing for fans and horsemen,” it teased.
The racing operations will be fully managed by the WCHRA, a newly formed not-for-profit society created solely for this purpose.
Driven by horsemen and fully supported by Harness Racing BC (HRBC), the WCHRA said it ensures a vibrant future for the standardbred industry in BC. This entire racing program is completely self-funded through horse racing operations within British Columbia.
