Mark Loewe has been named vice president of Ohio racing operations for Penn National Gaming Inc., subject to regulatory approvals.
Loewe previously served as vice president of racing at Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course in Pennsylvania.
PNGI plans to relocate its two Ohio racetracks–Beulah Park and Raceway Park–to the Youngstown area and Dayton, respectively. Loewe will be involved in the development of the new facilities, which will have video lottery terminals, but also oversee operations at Beulah Park and Raceway Park until they close.
It's expected the relocated tracks will begin operations in 2014.
Loewe will be assisted by Jim McKinney, who will continue as general manager of Beulah Park.
"Mark has done a tremendous job for us since joining Penn National five years ago," said Chris McErlean, vice president of racing for PNGI. "Ohio is an exciting long-term opportunity for our company, and we are looking forward to the next few years as we transition from our current tracks to a new era in Ohio racing, highlighted by new facilities and expanded revenues through the introduction of gaming.
"I believe Mark is up to the challenges and opportunities we face in the Buckeye State as we build these new racing facilities and transition from our existing operations."
Loewe, a former Standardbred trainer, worked at Pompano Park in Florida for more than 15 years before taking a position as director of pari-mutuel operations at Prairie Meadows Racetrack & Casino in Iowa. He then worked as general manager at Sanford Orlando Kennel Club in Florida; that property is now owned by PNGI.
The company also announced that Bill McLaughlin, general manager at Raceway Park in Toledo, is leaving Nov. 1 "to pursue other opportunities."
Loewe's position at Penn National was filled by Dan Silver.