HARRISBURG — The development of a long-stalled horse-racing track and casino project in Western Pennsylvania gained new life Tuesday when the State Harness Racing Commission voted to allow a new partnership to take it over.

The chairman of the two-member commission, Roy Wilt, was the only vote on the American Harness Tracks LLC case. Commissioner Richard Welsh didn’t vote because of a conflict of interest.

Under consideration was American Harness Tracks’ application to take over the Valley View Downs & Casino project, which stalled when Indianapolis-based Centaur ran into money troubles and auctioned the project as part of a federal bankruptcy case.

Before any construction begins, Pittsburgh-based American Harness Tracks will first seek licenses from the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board to operate slot machines and table games, said a lawyer representing the group, James Doherty III.

“This was an important step and one step closer to getting the fully integrated facility built,” Doherty said. “This was a very good day for AHT.”

The project is to be built on 250 acres in Lawrence County’s Mahoning Township. The racing commission was unable Tuesday to identify the owners of American Harness Tracks, and Doherty would not say. American Harness Tracks is a newly formed group and does not own any other racing or gambling facilities, he said.

Rep. Chris Sainato, D-Lawrence, said he views the project as a major economic boon for his home county, which has suffered as the region’s steel industry shrank, and a great location to attract gamblers and tourists from metropolitan Pittsburgh and Youngstown, Ohio.

“It’s probably the last great bastion for gambling in Pennsylvania,” Sainato said.

However, there are conditions on the harness racing license. Among other things, American Harness Tracks must show it has the financing to build a racing facility worth at least $150 million, and it must get the gaming board’s approval for a slot machine license.