As they round the last bend, horses kick up dirt in a previous year’s horse races at Desert Park. This year there are six races planned – five for thoroughbreds and one for quarter horses. Spectators are encouraged to wear horse race attire. (Richard McGuire file photo)
This Saturday should see lots of horse racing action at Desert Park in Osoyoos with six races planned.
That’s the word from Mike Valliere, president of the Desert Park Exhibition Society, who said there will be five thoroughbred races and one for quarter horses.
Gates open at noon and there is a parade to the post at 1 p.m. The event features para-mutuel betting, a 50/50 draw, food vendors and a beer garden.
Admission is $5 and there is free parking on the grass outside the facility.
“It’s looking fantastic,” said Valliere. “It’s coming together. Hopefully the weather holds for us. It’s going to be a great day.”
With more precipitation this year than last, the threat of wildfires isn’t what it was last year when the second race day had to be cancelled.
This year there is only one race date, Aug. 20, because the provincial licensing agency decided to grant only one date in response to objections by Vancouver’s Hastings Park racetrack to an additional date for Osoyoos.
This will be the fourth year since horse racing returned to Desert Park in 2013 after a hiatus of 15 years.
There have been two race dates each year since then, although the second date in 2015 was cancelled at the last minute when wildfires made it impossible for many of the horses to arrive.
Valliere said many of the volunteer spots have now been filled, but if anyone is still interested in volunteering, they can contact Paddy Head from the Desert Park Exhibition Society at 250-495-8181.
Coun. Carol Youngberg, the former president of the Desert Park Exhibition Society, said she’s encouraging women to wear fascinators and other racing attire and men also to wear traditional horse race outfits.
RICHARD McGUIRE
Osoyoos Times
