John Bogar, long time track announcer at Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course, has announced his retirement effective February 5, 2026. Bogar has been a mainstay at the Grantville oval since joining the team 45 years ago, taking the position of lead announcer calling the nightly races since 1985. In addition to his race calling responsibilities, Bogar has handled the morning line odds making responsibilities for each racing card, and during the 1980s and 1990s co-hosted "Racing Alive" with Fred Lipkin, one of the nation's first simulcast handicapping shows being broadcast from a racetrack.
"It's been a highly rewarding career," said Bogar. "I've had the honor of calling many of the all-time race-winning horses, from Time to Bid (50 wins), Win Man (48), Sawmill Run (40) and Ben's Cat (32) to future Breeders' Cup winners Da Hoss, Caravel, and Bobby's Kitten."
"The horses, however, were only one part of this great journey. I would like to whole-heartedly thank my fellow team members at Penn National for all their support throughout the years, and lastly, my greatest gratitude to the body and soul of the racing industry, the everyday racing fan."
"We would like to recognize and thank John for his years of service and his many memorable race calls. His recognizable voice and style have been synonymous with horse racing at Penn National over the past five decades and he will be missed by all," said Hollywood Casino Vice President and General Manager Tony Frabbiele.
Penn National has begun a search for its new announcer and interested candidates should apply via https://www.pennentertainment.com/careers.
The track plans to honor Bogar later in the 2026 racing season with a special evening set aside to honor John and his accomplishments.
