AURORA, ON, April 7 /CNW/ - Magna Entertainment Corp. ("MEC" or the "Company") today announced that it has appointed Greg Rayburn as Interim Chief Executive Officer of the Company, subject to the approval of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware. MEC and certain of its subsidiaries are currently subject to bankruptcy proceedings in the United States under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware. If approved, Mr. Rayburn will assume the customary responsibilities of the Chief Executive Officer including leading MEC's Chapter 11 restructuring activities and overseeing the sale of MEC's assets. He will report directly to MEC's Board of Directors. The decision to appoint Mr. Rayburn followed an extensive executive search process led by MEC's lead director, William Menear. Mr. Rayburn is currently a senior managing director and the practice leader of FTI Palladium Partners. He has more than 26 years of experience advising companies and boards of directors in several in-court and out-of-court restructurings and has previously served as CEO or CRO of other troubled companies, including WorldCom, aaiPharma and Muzak Holdings LLC. Frank Stronach, who has resigned his office as Chief Executive Officer of the Company effective immediately, will retain his position as Chairman of the Board of Directors.

In addition, the Board of Directors also appointed Warren Mosler to serve as an independent member of the Board of Directors. Mr. Mosler is the founder and principal of AVM, L.P., a broker/dealer that provides advanced financial services to large institutional accounts. Mr. Mosler is the President and founder of Mosler Automotive which manufactures the MT900 sports car in Riviera Beach, Florida. MEC's Board of Directors is in the ongoing process of searching for additional, qualified independent directors to strengthen MEC's Board.

Mr. Rayburn stated, "I look forward to this opportunity and to working with the MEC team."

ABOUT MEC

MEC, North America's largest owner and operator of horse racetracks, based on revenue, develops, owns and operates horse racetracks and related pari-mutuel wagering operations, including off-track betting facilities. MEC also develops, owns and operates casinos in conjunction with its racetracks where permitted by law. MEC owns and operates AmTote International, Inc., a provider of totalisator services to the pari-mutuel industry, XpressBet(R), a national Internet and telephone account wagering system, as well as MagnaBet(TM) internationally.