Penn National names racing executive

WYOMISSING, Pa. – Penn National Gaming Inc. has named a new vice president of racing, subject to customary regulatory approvals.

Christopher M. McErlean, 39, will be responsible for working with Penn National’s property level management in overseeing all racing operations at the company’s six racetracks and six off-track wagering facilities.

He will be based at the Hollywood Casino at Penn National, an integrated racing and gaming facility under construction outside Harrisburg, and will report directly to John Finamore, Penn National’s senior vice president for regional operations.

McErlean brings more than 14 years of pari-mutuel racing industry experience to his new position, having served most recently as vice president of racing operations for both the Meadowlands and Monmouth Park racetracks in New Jersey.

During his tenure, McErlean helped develop and implement a recent $40 million capital improvement plan as well as departmental and capital budgets for both tracks while supervising more than 1,500 employees.

He also was responsible for the direct supervision of the Meadowlands Racetrack operating and revenue departments as the track generated $480 million in wagering handle in 2005.

“Chris joins Penn National at a very exciting time of growth and expansion of Penn National’s racing interests,” Finamore said. “In addition to expanding racing operations at Bangor Raceway, we continue to develop our Charles Town [W.Va.] facility, we recently announced our proposed acquisition of Zia Park in New Mexico and have embarked on creating a world-class integrated racing and gaming facility in Pennsylvania at Penn National Racecourse.”

McErlean said he is looking forward to his new post.

“With a long-term commitment to the horse-racing industry and a nationally diversified portfolio of tracks in Pennsylvania, New Mexico, West Virginia, Maine, New Jersey and Ohio, Penn National is an ideal organization for me to leverage my background and experience,” he said.

“I look forward to representing the company in its racing-related pursuits and operations and contributing to the company’s continued growth.”

Penn National owns and operates casino and horse-racing facilities with a focus on slot machine entertainment.

The company operates 16 facilities in 13 jurisdictions, including Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Ontario.

Altogether, Penn National’s facilities feature 21,000 slot machines, more than 425 table games, 1,500 hotel rooms and 630,000 square feet of gaming floor space.