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Final action on fate of racetrack delayed
NEW CASTLE, Pa.
Lawrence County elected representatives have learned they must wait until next month for any news on the fate of Valley View Downs.
The county commissioners, state Rep. Chris Sainato of New Castle, D-9th, and state Rep. Rob Matzie of Ambridge, D-16th, who represents parts of Beaver and Allegheny counties, attended Wednesday’s Pennsylvania Harness Racing Commission meeting in Harrisburg.
The officials were there to show support for keeping the proposed racetrack and casino at its Mahoning Township site in the county.
The proposed racetrack was auctioned by a Delaware bankruptcy court in October, and an apparent successful bidder emerged, but the bid has not yet been finalized by the court.
Commissioner Dan Vogler said Atty. Maureen McBride of Westchester, Pa., represented Valley View Downs’ parent company, Centaur LLC of Indianapolis and spoke briefly at the hearing, saying only that the bankruptcy court has tentatively set Dec. 13 for final action on American Harness Tracks Inc.’s bid.
If the sale is finalized, the successful bidder would be allowed to apply to have Valley View Downs’ harness-racing license transferred to them.
The harness-racing commission has said a successful bidder would have until Dec. 31 to file a preliminary application for transfer of the harness-racing license, which is the fourth and final of the Pennsylvania licenses that, by law, must be combined with a casino.