Penn National names kennel club GM

LONGWOOD, Florida -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- Penn National Gaming, Inc. (Nasdaq: PENN) announced today that, subject to regulatory approval, Mark J. Loewe has been named General Manager of its Sanford-Orlando Kennel Club facility in Longwood, FL, effective February 15, 2008.

Mr. Loewe has over 15 years of experience in the racing industry, having served in various senior management positions, most recently as Pari-Mutuel Operations Manager of Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino in Des Moines, IA, where he was responsible for managing and budgeting the mutuel department, racing center, simulcasting, program production and television departments. In addition to his role at Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino, Mr. Loewe has held various senior level positions at Pompano Park Racing in Pompano Park, FL including Director of Racing/Simulcasting and most recently, Senior Director of Operations and Racing where he oversaw 250-300 employees across all departments of the 210 acre facility on a day-to-day basis.

Mark Loewe has also served as Manager and Consultant of the No RNA Stable in Boca Raton, FL, where he was responsible for all management functions including budget development, yearling and trainer selection, and marketing of yearlings. Mr. Loewe is a graduate of St. John's University in Queens, NY, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Government and Politics, and serves on various boards including the Rotary Club of Ankeny, Iowa and the United Way Action Council.

John Finamore, Senior Vice President of Regional Operations at Penn National Gaming, commented, "Having held numerous successful cross-functional racing industry roles, Mark's strategic planning, budgeting, management and regulatory background make him ideally qualified to assume the position of GM at Sanford-Orlando, our year-round greyhound racing and simulcast wagering facility. Mark brings over 15 years of proven racing industry experience managing highly entertaining and efficient racing operations and his appointment is consistent with Penn National's strategy to attract and employ the best talent available in the gaming industry to manage our regional gaming properties."