Penn National Race Course

Penn National Race Course is a one-mile thoroughbred racetrack in Grantville, Pennsylvania. Live racing is held year-round.

Penn National's illustrious history and tradition has made it a major force in Central Pennsylvania's sports and entertainment scene. Through the wonders of simulcasting, its racing program is viewed by patrons across the nation and the world.

Penn National Race Course hosts some of the more prominent Stakes racing events in the state. Among these are:

• The Pennsylvania Governor's Cup
• The Missy Good Stakes
• The John J. Shumaker Handicap
• Jenny Wade Handicap
• Capital City Handicap
• Blue Mountain Juvenile Stakes

Penn National Race Course Records – Dirt Track

Distance	Horse	Age	Weight	Time	Date
2 Furlongs	Winning Brew	2	119 lbs	20.57	May 14, 2008
4 Furlongs	Gross	2	118 lbs	46.20	Apr 13, 1973
4 ½ Furlongs	Glacken	7	117 lbs	50.56	Sep 20, 2007
5 Furlongs	Rockin in Dixie	4	118 lbs	56.38	Aug 06, 2012
5 ½ Furlongs	Whateveryouwant	7	123 lbs	1:01.66	Apr 11, 2019
6 Furlongs	Sparticle	4	119 lbs	1:07.68	Aug 24, 2019
1 Mile	Johnny Jump Up	6	119 lbs	1:35.64	Oct 27, 2017
1 Mile 70 Yards	Vault	3	119 lbs	1:39.55	Nov 06, 2019
1 1/16 Miles	A Letter to Harry	4	117 lbs	1:41.20	Sep 10, 1978
1 1/8 Miles	Matt King Coal	4	123 lbs	1:48.93	Jun 03, 2017
1 3/16 Miles	Bar Tab	8	114 lbs	1:55.40	Oct 14, 1972
1 ¼ Miles	Adda Nickell	4	122 lbs	2:03.60	Oct 30, 1976
1 ½ Miles	Holly Holme	5	118 lbs	2:31.40	Sep 29, 1973
1 5/8 Miles	New Episode	8	119 lbs	2:48.15	May 18, 2001
1 3/4 Miles	Chasqui (ARG)	7	119 lbs	3:00.00	Jun 21, 1980
2 Miles	Finny Flyer	6	111 lbs	3:28.00	May 25, 1974

Penn National Race Course Records – Turf Course

Distance	Horse	Age	Weight	Time	Date
5 Furlongs	Bop	5	121 lbs	54.61	Aug 03, 2002
About 5 Furlongs	Threewitt	5	116 lbs	56.28	Jul 14, 2005
1 Mile	Thunder Brew	3	122 lbs	1:33.12	Jul 31, 2010
About 1 Mile	Whiskey Lullaby	6	123 lbs	1:34.54	Aug 14, 2025
1 Mile 70 Yards	Summer to Remember	5	122 lbs	1:36.48	Aug 25, 2022
About 1 Mile 70 Yards	Eff Thirty Five	3	118 lbs	1:38.22	Aug 28, 2024
1 1/16 Miles	Told	4	123 lbs	1:38.00	Sep 14, 1980
About 1 1/16 Miles	Pretorian Gold	4	121 lbs	1:41.20	Aug 27, 2025
1 ½ Miles	Coalitioncandidate	5	113 lbs	2:27.10	May 27, 1991
About 1 ½ Miles	Bode's Maker	10	119 lbs	2:27.50	Aug 14, 2025

Penn National Race Course Facts

• Main Track: one mile, oval
• Turf Course: seven furlongs
• Distance from last turn to finish line: 990 feet

History of Penn National Race Course

1972

• Penn National opened its doors to a crowd of 10,686 on August 30. The track was owned and built by a group of civic leaders from Central Pennsylvania. In its first season, the track only had 100 racing dates.
• Penn National established a year-round racing calendar.

1983

• Penn National pioneered the use of account wagering through the telephone.

1991

• In March, the first off-track wagering facility opened in Erie, Pennsylvania.

1994

• On May 26, 1994, Penn National Gaming, Inc, issued $18 million of stock in a public offering. It is now traded on NASDAQ.
• In November, Penn National Gaming, Inc. purchased Pocono Downs.

1997

• In January, Penn National Gaming, Inc. purchased Charles Town Races.

1998

• Penn National off-track wagering facilities rose to 10.

2000

• An 11th off-track wagering facility was opened in East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania.

2004

• Pennsylvania passed the Pennsylvania Race Horse Development and Gaming Act, legalizing slot machines at racetracks to help boost the horse racing industry through shared revenue.

2008

• The venue underwent a massive transformation and officially opened as Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course in February. The new $310 million integrated facility featured a massive casino floor directly overlooking the track, integrating the gaming and racing experiences.

2013

• The track launched its signature racing event, the Penn Mile Stakes, a prominent turf race for three-year-olds that quickly achieved graded stakes status and attracted top-tier turf horses from across North America.

2018

• Following state legalization, Penn National opened the first sportsbook in Pennsylvania in November, allowing patrons to place legal wagers on professional and collegiate sports alongside traditional live racing.

2022

• The parent company officially changed its name from Penn National Gaming, Inc. to Penn Entertainment, Inc. to reflect its evolution into a diversified omni-channel media and entertainment brand.

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