Harness racing license withheld

The commission is expected to reveal the reasons for its ruling.
By VIRGINIA ROSS
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Loretta Denny, the Mahoning Township tax collector, said it's incredibly disappointing a harness racing operation isn't coming to Lawrence County.
Area businessman Nick Tropea said the decision not to bring the operation here is confusing.
And County Commissioner Steve Craig said the Pennsylvania State Harness Racing Commission's ruling Thursday to reject the harness racing license applications of both Bedford Downs in Lawrence County and Valley View Downs in Beaver County is a shock.
"It's unbelievable," Craig said. "And it's a shame."
Lawrence Commissioner Daniel J. Vogler, a supporter of the Bedford Downs application, said he was concerned that further delays might create a competitive disadvantage as other slots parlors get up and running.
"The longer amount of time that this would take for the [board] to ultimately award a harness license, that slows down the awarding of a slots license," Vogler said.
Pennsylvania's last available harness racing license would have given the winner an inside track to install up to 5,000 slot machines.
The three-member commission provided no explanation for its decision, which was made during a special session in Harrisburg. The commission is expected to issue a report outlining its reasoning within the next several weeks, however.
Maintaining confidence
Lawrence County businessman Carmen Shick, his brother and sister operate Bedford Downs Management.
In a written statement, Shick expressed confidence that Bedford Downs eventually will be declared the winner.
"While we were surprised by the commission's decision ... we are confident in [its] ability to make the best possible decision for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania," his statement reads. "We will have to wait for the adjudication to plan our next course of action. We've simply gone into overtime. ... We hope for the support of the commission so that we can proceed with this project and start creating new jobs."
Shick has proposed establishing a one-mile harness racing track, operating as Bedford Downs, on reclaimed strip-mine property in Mahoning Township.
Shick's family owns the 550 acres, located just off Pa. Routes 60, U.S. Route 422 and Pa. Route 551. Shick has said the first phase of the project would provide 2,000 new jobs.
"I think it's very sad for this area," Denny said. "We could use the jobs for our people and the tax revenue for our township."
Bedford Downs Management and the Indianapolis-based company Centaur Inc. were the final two applicants for the state's last available harness racing license. Both track sites are close to the Ohio state line.
Centaur is looking to establish its Valley View Downs track in South Beaver Township, Beaver County.
What's next
There is a 30-day window for appealing the decision. Otherwise, the process will start over, with Bedford Downs and Valley View Downs each eligible to reapply.
Centaur spokesman Rick Kelly said Valley View Downs officials had not yet decided whether to appeal or reapply.
"I'm hopeful this isn't the end of it," Craig said. "I'm hoping maybe the two parties, Bedford and Valley View, might be able to work together and possibly establish something together to ensure this license is given to western Pennsylvania. I'm hoping for something to still work out, and I don't think this has to be the end of it."
Competition for the last available harness license has been heated because the 2004 slot-machine gambling law makes it probable that the state's seven horse tracks, including those in the planning stages, will be granted slots licenses.
"The thing is, it would be great to have new business in the area," said Tropea, who owns Ms. & amp; His Beauty/Barber Shop on U.S. Route 224 in Mahoning Township.
"A lot of people need good-paying jobs," she continued. "You almost have to work for a school or a hospital around here to make enough money to survive. It would be nice to give people around here another option. It would be nice to give the area a boost. It's disappointing. But I think it's still worth fighting for. I hope it's not over."
XThe Associated Press contributed to this story.