HARNESS RACING Brief seeks an appeal of Bedford decision

One state lawmaker wants a stand-alone slots parlor in western Pennsylvania.
By LAURE CIOFFI
VINDICATOR PENNSYLVANIA BUREAU
HARRISBURG -- The Pennsylvania Harness Racing Commission -- in a brief signed by the chief counsel for Gov. Ed Rendell -- has asked the Pennsylvania Supreme Court to allow an appeal of a decision favorable to Bedford Downs in Lawrence County.
Barbara Adams, general counsel for the governor, signed the legal brief submitted Tuesday. It is in response to last week's decision by the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court reversing and remanding the state harness commission's denial of the harness license to Bedford Downs, a company formed by the Shick family.
An appeal filed by Bedford's competitor, Valley View Downs, a proposed track in Beaver County, was rejected by the Commonwealth Court.
The new legal maneuver filed on behalf of the harness racing commission asks the Supreme Court to affirm the commission's earlier decision rejecting Bedford's request for the license.
Last week, Bedford officials urged the commission to recognize the court's decision and award the license to the facility proposed on about 500 acres just east of the Ohio state line on U.S. Route 422.
The last harness track license winner is almost assured a lucrative slots license from the state gaming board.
'Appearance of impropriety'
In the commission's new brief it states "the mere appearance of impropriety reflects negatively upon the industry and the Commonwealth and is grounds for refusal to award a harness license."
Commonwealth Court ruled the commission erred when it rejected Bedford partly because the Shicks' deceased grandfather, Carmen Ambrosia, may have had dealings with Youngstown organized-crime figures more than 20 years ago.
The court also rejected the commission's claim that Bedford's financing for the project was not in order.
This appeal comes on the heels of an admission by Democratic House whip, Mike Veon of Beaver County, that he wants to propose an amendment to the state's gaming law to take the last gaming license, now promised to the last harness track, and make it a stand-alone parlor.
The Associated Press reports that Veon wants the legislation to specify that the stand-alone parlor be in Beaver or Lawrence counties. He has been quoted saying he prefers it be in Beaver County.
Shick's reaction
"There is simply no reason to create another stand-alone slot parlor other than to allow Mr. Veon to have a casino in his district," said Carmen Shick, developer and principal of Bedford Downs. "He is pulling every trick in the book to see that gets done. No matter how often Mr. Veon says he's trying to benefit western Pennsylvania, he really means his district -- no matter what the cost. He should not be allowed to hijack the process for his own selfish, political interests."
Veon did not return calls from The Vindicator seeking comment.
Gov. Rendell's office also did not return calls seeking information as to why the governor's chief counsel signed the harness racing commission's appeal to the state Supreme Court.
cioffi@vindy.com