AURORA, ON, April 7 /CNW/ - Magna Entertainment Corp. ("MEC" or the "Company") filed this news release as its first bi-weekly default status report under National Policy 12-203 of the Canadian Securities Administrators, pursuant to which MEC announced that it would not be filing its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008, nor would it be filing quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission or the Canadian securities regulators during the period it continues to operate its business as a debtor in possession under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. MEC reports that since announcing the original notice of default on March 26, 2009, there have not been any material changes to the information contained therein, nor any failure by MEC to fulfill its intentions stated therein, and there are no additional defaults or anticipated defaults subsequent to such announcement. The Company intends to file its next default status report on Thursday, April 16, 2009.

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. Pursuant to joint ventures, MEC has a fifty percent interest in HorseRacing TV(R), a 24-hour horse racing television network, and TrackNet Media Group LLC, a content management company formed for distribution of the full breadth of MEC's horse racing content.

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation, including Section 27A of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and Section 21E of the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act") and forward-looking information as defined in the Securities Act (Ontario) (collectively referred to as "forward-looking statements"). These forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and the Securities Act (Ontario). Forward-looking statements should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results, and will not necessarily be accurate indications of whether or the times at or by which such performance or results will be achieved. Undue reliance should not be placed on such statements.