It's been three years since a deal was reached to build a harness track and casino in Lawrence County, but plans still are sitting at the starting gate. It's time to admit that Valley View Downs, which had troubles from the beginning, never will reach the finish line.

When the Legislature legalized slot machines in 2004, it set aside seven licenses for racetracks, four harness and three thoroughbred. Six tracks and their casinos are running, but Valley View and Centaur PA, two subsidiaries of the Indianapolis-based gambling firm Centaur LLC, haven't started construction on the track, which is supposed to be open by September.

Centaur will need an extension from the state Harness Racing Commission, but it hasn't asked for one. If or when it does, the commission should reject it rather than continuing to waste time. Centaur put Valley View under bankruptcy protection last year, and it hasn't shown signs of being ready to undertake this $425 million project.

Without the harness license, Centaur no longer would have exclusive rights to apply for the casino license that goes with it, and which is considered far more valuable. Under the gambling law, the harness commission could re-open the application process for the racing license and the successful bidder then could apply for the related casino license.

It makes more sense, though, to adapt the slots law, as proposed by state Sen. John Wozniak of Johnstown, who wants to uncouple the harness and casino licenses. There's likely to be more interest in developing a stand-alone casino if a harness track isn't part of the bargain, and the sooner all of the state's casinos are operating, the sooner they bring in revenue for property tax relief for all homeowners.

Similarly, Mr. Wozniak wants to change the law so that the second casino license for Philadelphia no longer would be tied to that city, where a Sugarhouse casino is to open this year but one proposed by Foxwoods is stalled. His legislation is on the right track.

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