Centaur’s former site approved
December 14, 2010,from Harness Tracks of America
Tucson, AZ — It now appears that a harness track and racino that Indiana’s Centaur had hoped to build in western Pennsylvania may be built after all, but not by Centaur.
The company had objected to the results of an Oct. 20 auction of its harness racing license — the last available in Pennsylvania — and so had Carmen Shick’s Bedford Development Management, an unsuccessful bidder.
It now appears both have withdrawn their objections with the successful bidder, American Harness Tracks, coming up with a new partner-backer in Merit Gaming of Chicago. American Harness had originally announced it would move the proposed track and racino to Johnstown in central Pennsylvania, but legal obstacles seemingly appeared that could have nullified such a move because of an as-is, where-is provision in the auction sale. Centaur and Bedford’s withdrawal of their objections indicates the project is on course for Lawrence County near the Pennsylvania-Ohio state line.
Still unresolved, and needing approval, is the racino license which remains subject to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, which had refused to grant further extensions to Centaur because of its inability to obtain financing. If American Harness Tracks can satisfy the control board that it can get the financing from Merit Gaming, the five-year delay could be over, and construction of the track and casino could finally get underway.
- Centaur seeks to auction Valley View license (Thursday, August 12, 2010)
Centaur, Inc., which holds the license to build Valley View Downs in Pennsylvania, has said it wants to auction the license to build the $455 million racino, but there may not be enough time to sell it.
- Centaur receives one month extension (Sunday, September 05, 2010)
Centaur, Inc., which had sought a two-year extension of its license to build a harness racetrack in western Pennsylvania from the Pennsylvania Harness Racing Commission, received instead a one month extension to secure at least one bona fide written offer for the license.
- Valley View auction set for Oct. 20 (Wednesday, October 06, 2010)
Hopes to build the proposed Valley View Downs in Northwest Pennsylvania remain alive — but not yet off the critical list.
- American Harness Tracks wins bid for Valley View Downs license (Monday, October 25, 2010)
A license to build a harness racetrack and casino in Lawrence County, Pa. has been tentatively won by American Harness Tracks, LLC, a company originally formed to build a harness track recently proposed in Johnstown, Pa.