Pileggi related the story to a crowd of about 100 people, including state and local politicians and officials, yesterday seeking to answer that query once and for all.

"All those hurdles have been overcome, and we're here today to mark this important point in time in Chester's economic development," Pileggi said at a formal groundbreaking ceremony for Harrah's Chester Casino and Racetrack. Pileggi was formerly the city's Republican mayor.

Plans for the complex call for a harness racetrack, a 1,500-seat grandstand and simulcast facility, a 2,500-slot casino, and a variety of food and beverage outlets. There are also plans for a buffet, 24-hour restaurant, lounge, and 300-seat clubhouse dining area, according to Harrah's.

Promising everything but gold-lined sidewalks, Harrah's Entertainment, which is putting up $250 million for half-interest in the project, also presented a $500,000 check to the Delaware County Workforce Investment Board. The money is to be used in part to prepare Chester residents to fill hundreds of jobs at the track and other businesses expected to follow.

"Gaming has proven to be a powerful catalyst for economic growth for communities that need it most," said Gary Loveman, Harrah's chief executive officer. "We look forward to becoming an active member of the Chester community."

Harrah's officials said the track in Chester would create about 400 construction jobs and 900 full-time positions. The figures are less than initial estimates in part because of computerized gaming cards that would reduce the number of workers needed to make change for gamblers, track officials said.

The state's new gaming law, enacted in July, legalized up to 61,000 slot machines at 14 locations, including racetracks, potentially making Pennsylvania the nation's biggest slot-machine market outside of Nevada. The state Supreme Court still has to decide, however, whether it agrees with a pending challenge that says the law's passage was unconstitutional.

The Chester project, where land is cleared for construction to start, has been granted a license to operate a harness track, but its gaming license is still pending. Harrah's officials said they expect a temporary license to be approved later this year or early in 2006. Racing is scheduled to begin at the track in June 2006.

The three businessmen who formed Chester Downs and Marina and presented the initial plan for a track at the old Sun Shipbuilding site along the Delaware River are 50 percent partners with Harrah's. The plan was met with skepticism that the poverty-stricken city could draw the crowds needed to make the venue viable.

In Chester, 25 percent of households were living in poverty in 2000, compared with 11 percent across the state, according to the U.S. Census.

"Nobody believed this could happen here," Gov. Rendell told the crowd. "But the three partners of Chester Downs, they believed."

About 15 miles north, various outlets are vying for the two slots parlors that were authorized for Philadelphia. Rendell has promised job creation across the state.

"It's going to be job creation for the right people," Rendell said yesterday.

In the crowd, Chester native Tina Johnson asked Rendell what he meant by "the right people."

Rendell did not answer her directly. He instead suggested she contact the state's Gaming Control Board.

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