Court to hear Centaur appeal

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court said Friday that it will hear an appeal by Centaur, an Indianapolis-based company, which was denied a license by the Pennsylvania State Harness Racing Commission. Centaur owns and operates Hoosier Park.

In a two-page statement Friday, the high court said it would hear the appeal by Centaur Inc. on the basis of two questions dealing with the commission's decision-making process.

Centaur Inc. is seeking to build Valley View Downs in Beaver County, north of Pittsburgh. Businessman Carmen Shick applied to build Bedford Downs in Lawrence County. In November 2005 the racing commission denied licenses to both applicants. The companies are vying for the state's last harness racing license. In June a court ruled that the racing commission made a mistake when it rejected the Bedford Downs application and ordered the commissioners to reconsider it. In the same ruling, it rejected a challenge to the decision on the application by Centaur, which appealed to the high court.

In rejecting the Valley View proposal, the commission cited the design as well as access to the Beaver County site. The high court agreed to consider whether the panel violated due process in changing the manner of evaluation or by not affording the firm an opportunity to remedy deficiencies.

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