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Developers cite location, pledge to give to charity

Wednesday, July 23, 2003

By Timothy McNulty, Post-Gazette Staff Writer

Supporters of a proposed thoroughbred horse racing track in Beaver County stressed its location and pledged to share a portion of its revenue with charitable organizations as the reasons it should be awarded the state's last racing license.

With state government considering whether to legalize some 5,000 slot machines at every racetrack, competition is humming for the last license, with five proposed tracks in the Greater Pittsburgh area alone. Yesterday, supporters of Oxford Development's proposed $85 million Pennsylvania Downs met with reporters in Beaver County and Downtown to release architectural designs and tout their plans.

Proponents said the 154-acre site at Route 60 and the Pennsylvania Turnpike is within 60 minutes of 2.4 million people and within 90 minutes of 4.8 million; the hotel, casino and track would employ at least 300 full-time and 200 part-time workers; and 25 percent of the facility's net profits would be plowed into charitable efforts by United Way agencies in a 10-county region.

The location of the track -- a "9-iron shot" away from the turnpike, as Oxford President David Matter put it -- is the key attribute, officials from Big Beaver told reporters at a Downtown briefing.

"The point is, the location is the type of marriage if not made in heaven, at least perhaps is made in Harrisburg. We will be able to have for our people a better life down there," Big Beaver Borough Council President Jason Landsbach said.

Other proposed bidders are:

Magna Entertainment Corp., owner of The Meadows track in Washington County, which wants to build a new thoroughbred track in Findlay, near Pittsburgh International Airport.

Beaver County developer Charles J. Betters, who is working with Churchill Downs of Louisville, Ky., to build a $500 million racetrack/casino/residential/retail complex atop a hilly site in the city neighborhood of Hays. A public hearing on the proposal will be held by Pittsburgh City Council at 1:30 p.m. tomorrow.

The Biros family of South Versailles, which wants to build a track in southeastern Allegheny County on 200 acres it owns along the Youghiogheny River.

Edson "Ted" Arneault, owner of Mountaineer Race Track and Gaming Resort in Chester, W.Va., who wants to build a $100 million track in Harmar near the turnpike-Route 28 interchange and use 2 percent to 3 percent of track profits to help cover the Penguins' share of a proposed $270 million arena.

Two other groups are seeking the final license hoping build new tracks in the Philadelphia area.

State House and Senate leaders are still divided on final slots legislation, which is proposed to fund property tax reform, and, in the House version, the Philadelphia convention center and a new Pittsburgh hockey arena and convention center hotel.

The House bill approved Saturday authorized as many as 11 slot machine casinos, including nine at licensed horse racing tracks and two in freestanding parlors, one in Philadelphia and one in the Pittsburgh region. The Senate bill approved last month permitted up to eight slots casinos, all at racetracks.

Whatever becomes law, Matter said yesterday that Oxford is pushing for both thoroughbred track and slots licenses. Pennsylvania Downs could operate with only a thoroughbred license if necessary, he said, but it would not open as a slots-only facility. The developers also need zoning approvals from Big Beaver and Beaver County officials.

The facility would take about two years to build. Oxford and racing partner Hartman & Tyner introduced designs yesterday by Morris Architects of Orlando, Fla., that reflect rural Pennsylvania character and historical horse racing themes, the architects said.