Valley View Downs casino project seeks bankruptcy protection

HARRISBURG (AP) — The Indianapolis-based company that is hoping to open a casino and racetrack in western Pennsylvania says its two subsidiaries in the state have filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

Centaur LLC said today it will continue to pursue the launch of Valley View Downs & Casino in Pennsylvania.

Chief Financial Officer Kurt Wilson says the company hopes that restructuring its debt will hasten progress on the Valley View property. The company says it submitted the filing Wednesday.

Centaur has a license to operate a harness racing operation and casino at the site near Lawrence County.

But its financing for the $400 million-plus project fell through last year, and the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board doesn’t want to issue a slot-machine gambling license unless Centaur has the money to build it.