Desert Park is now the scene of two horse racing days per year, like this one in August. The facilities are also used during the winter for training horses from Alberta that are brought here for the better climate. The recently released Town of Osoyoos Community Services Master Plan depicts horses as a declining industry in B.C. and suggests the land should be put to other uses. Carol Youngberg, president of the Desert Park Exhibition Society, however, believes there’s potential to grow the equestrian activities while also seeing the facility better used by non-equestrian sports and events. (Richard McGuire file photo)

Horses round the final bend in a race at Desert Park in August 2014. This year there are plans for one race day on Aug. 20. (Richard McGuire file photo)

Horse racing fans will want to mark Saturday, Aug. 20 on their calendar as the Desert Park Exhibition Society has confirmed that will be the lone race date in Osoyoos in 2016.

“We have applied for and been granted our race license,” said Mike Valliere, the president of the Desert Park Exhibition Society, which managed the Desert Park racetrack facility in Osoyoos. “We’re excited about our race date and everything is set to go.”

The society applied to have two thoroughbred race dates for 2016, but senior management at Vancouver’s Hastings Park racetrack – by far the largest horse racing facility in the province – objected and the provincial licensing agency decided to grant only one race date for Desert Park, said Valliere.

“We would have liked more, but we have to settle for what we have and make the most of it,” he said.

Negotiations to hold harness racing cards in the spring fell apart after the provincial regulating body decided not to grant any race events in smaller venues, said Valliere.

On Aug. 20, the tentative plan is to hold at least four thoroughbred races and one quarter horse race, said Valliere.

The card could be expanded if enough thoroughbred owners show interest over the next month or so, he said.

The majority of horses that come to Desert Park to race come from Washington State, but there are also a few owners who do race regularly at Hastings Park and will make the trip from the Lower Mainland, said Valliere.

Invitations have also been sent to the regular trainers from Alberta who spend parts of February, March and April in Osoyoos training their horses at Desert Park, he said.

The society remains hopeful it can host at least two race dates each summer moving forward, said Valliere.

“The more the better,” he said. “If we can’t hold at least two, then we’re going to have to continue looking for other avenues to raise revenue.”

A first-time jousting event was held at Desert Park over the Victoria Day holiday weekend in May and there was solid fan support for that event, so here’s a good chance a second jousting card will be held next spring, he said.

As with each race date, the Desert Park Exhibition Society is going to need a good group of volunteers to run the concession stands and beer garden as well as sell pari-mutuel tickets, he said.

Anyone interested in volunteering their services can contact Paddy Head from the Desert Park Exhibition Society at 250-495-8181.

KEITH LACEY

Osoyoos Times