Legislation streamlines process for relocating horse racing

A bill to be considered Thursday by the Ohio House would make it a lot easier for a horse racetrack with video slot machines to relocate, the legislation’s co-sponsor says.

The bill is designed to relocate two horse-racing tracks owned by Penn National Gaming Inc. and have video lottery terminals at the new facilities, including one in Austintown, said state Rep. Ronald V. Gerberry, the legislation’s co-sponsor.

The relocations proposed by Penn National are Raceway Park in Toledo to a $200 million facility to be built in Austintown at the vacant 186-acre Centerpointe business park, and Beulah Park in Grove City, near Columbus, to the Dayton area.

The House State Government and Elections Committee, of which Gerberry is the ranking minority member, approved the legislation today.

Gerberry of Austintown, D-59th, said the full House will consider the bill Thursday, and it will be up for a vote in the state Senate as early as next week.

For the complete story, read Thursday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com