Penn National changing schedule

Penn National Racecourse in Grantville, Penn., will drop its Monday and Tuesday night programs and switch to a Wednesday-through-Saturday schedule beginning in September, the track announced.

Penn added the Monday and Tuesday night programs at the start of this year in the hope of boosting its presence in the national full-card simulcast market. In a statement, the track’s vice president of racing, Mark Loewe, said that “the move didn’t generate the interest we had hoped for.”

Penn also plans to add several Tuesday night cards to the racing calendar in mid-October in order to make up for canceled cards during the winter.

Also, beginning July 1, Penn will cut its takeout on pick three and pick four bets to 25 percent. Takeout on the pick three is currently 26 percent, while takeout on the pick four is 28 percent. The minimum for the bets will be reduced from $1 to 50 cents, the track said.

In addition, also on July 1, Penn will add a pick five to its wagering menu. Takeout on the pick five will also be 25 percent, and the minimum will be 50 cents.