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Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course celebrated its 34th season in 2006 and continues to build upon its foundation of history and tradition that has made it a major force in the sports and entertainment market in Central Pennsylvania. Turf racing is featured on our nationally-acclaimed seven-furlong course. For added excitement, we simulcast the nation's best racing seven days each week.

Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course
Off-Track Wagering

Penn National operates four OTW facilities throughout Central Pennsylvania. The focus is on offering patrons the chance to watch and wager on racing from across the country in customer-friendly surroundings. Click Here for locations.

Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course History

Racing had many stars on the track at Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course in 2006, but more far-reaching headlines were made 20 mile away from the Grantville oval. On September 27, approval was received from the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board in Harrisburg, Pa., that granted a permanent Category 1 slot machine license to the track’s parent company Penn National Gaming, Inc.

Earlier in the year construction had begun on the new Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course (HCPN). The facility will be a 365,000 square foot state-of-the-art integrated racing and gaming operation that will employ a work force of approximately 1,000 persons.

Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course will feature the excitement of live thoroughbred racing and full-card simulcasting throughout the year. The initial phase of operations will also include a food court with four outlets, a sports bar, bar, trackside dining, and lounge and entertainment areas on the gaming level. The facility will open with 2,000 slot machines and be sized to accommodate 3,000 machines. A five-story parking garage with valet service parking will be connected to HCPN.

Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course is being built on the site of the original grandstand that opened with a crowd of 10,686 on August 30,1972. The building hosted its final live racing program on April 8, 2006. Live and simulcast racing operations continued on a regular schedule with the move to the Paddock Club located on the north end of track property.

The highlight of the 2006 local racing season was the 34th running of the $50,000 Pennsylvania Governor’s Cup Handicap run on Thursday night, August 3. World record holder Procreate led all the way in the five-furlong turf sprint to win by two lengths in: 55.46 under jockey A.R.Napravnik. The winner’s check raised Procreate’s lifetime earnings to $327,154.

Emilio Flores won his first local riding crown in 2006 and Bruce Kravets his second training title in the past three years. Flores posted 129 wins, 115 seconds and 103 thirds from 839 mounts. William Otero was second with 111 victories and Thomas Clifton third with 105 wins.

Kravets led all conditioners with 78 winners. David Geist saddled 69 first-place finishers and Todd Beattie and Flint Stites tied for third with 64.

In a style similar to his winning ways on the racetrack, Anthony L. Roman, Jr’s Who’s Bluffing dominated the competition in the balloting for 2006 Horse-of-the-Year honors at Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course.

Who’s Bluffing won three of five local starts in 2006, with two third-place finishes. One of those efforts came when he was beaten less than two lengths in the track’s richest race, the $50,000 Pennsylvania Governor’s Cup Handicap, run over five furlongs on the grass.

The six-year old etched his name in Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course's history book with a track-record 1:08:77 clocking for six furlongs on May 30.