It is something that many in the Standardbred industry have heard before, but Lawrence Downs, the proposed one-mile harness raceway in Pennsylvania, appears to be on the cusp of becoming reality.
An article by the Pittsburgh Tribune has cited Dan Vogler, the chairman of the Lawrence County commissioners, as saying that the current proposal for Lawrence Downs is the closest to becoming reality out of all those that have come before it.
There have been a total of six different investment groups that have proposed to build Lawrence Downs since 2004. The report explains that 88-year-old New Jersey resident Joseph Procacci is the player behind the most recent push.
Procacci is the head of a successful produce supplier that is based out of Philadelphia. The article states that Procacci – who is known in some circles as the ‘Tomato King’ – must have his financing for the project in place by November 20.
The proposed facility has been pegged as a $225-million undertaking. The track would be located off Route 422 in Mahoning, and the facility would feature Pennsylvania’ 14th and final casino.
(With files from the Pittsburgh Tribune)