SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, DC 20549 FORM 8-K Current Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported) May 17, 2000 MAGNA ENTERTAINMENT CORP. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter) Delaware, United States of America - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation) 0-28003 98-0208374 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Commission File Number (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) 285 West Huntington Drive, Arcadia, California 91007 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code) (626) 574-7223 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code) - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Former Name or Former Address, if changed Since Last Report) ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS On May 17, 2000, the Registrant issued a press release in which the Registrant announced that it had entered into a letter of intent, subject to the satisfaction of various conditions and regulatory approvals, to purchase Bay Meadows Operating Company in San Mateo, California. The full text of the press release issued by the Registrant is filed as Exhibit 1 and is incorporated herein by reference. ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS Exhibit 1 Copy of Registrant's press release dated May 17, 2000 is attached as Exhibit 1. SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized MAGNA ENTERTAINMENT CORP. (Registrant) Date: May 17, 2000 by: /s/ J. Brian Colburn ---------------------------------- J. Brian Colburn, Secretary INDEX TO EXHIBITS EXHIBIT DESCRIPTION OF EXHIBIT - ------- ---------------------- 1 Registrant's press release dated May 17, 2000 EXHIBIT 1 MAGNA ENTERTAINMENT CORP. 285 West Huntington Drive Arcadia, CA 91007 Tel: (626) 574-7223 Fax: (626) 446-9565 PRESS RELEASE MAGNA ENTERTAINMENT ANNOUNCES PLANS TO OPERATE BAY MEADOWS RACECOURSE May 17, 2000, Arcadia, California.....Magna Entertainment Corp. (NASDAQ: MIEC; TSE: MIE.A, MEH) today announced that it signed a letter of intent to purchase Bay Meadows Operating Company (BMOC), which presently operates Bay Meadows Racecourse in San Mateo, California. The letter of intent is subject to the execution of a definitive agreement, completion of due diligence and regulatory approval by the California Horse Racing Board and other agencies. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Under the proposed agreement, MEC will continue live racing at the Bay Meadows Racecourse through the end of 2002, after which MEC intends to consolidate BMOC's racing schedule at Golden Gate Fields in Albany, CA. "I am very pleased to have reached an agreement concerning Bay Meadows because it complements our other activities," said Frank Stronach, Chairman of the Board of MEC. "We are confident that the Bay Meadows horse racing tradition will be in good hands under MEC's stewardship," said John Tashjian, spokesman for the Bay Meadows Operating Company. For more information contact: David Mitchell, EVP & CFO John Tashjian, Management Committee Magna Entertainment Corp. Bay Meadows Operating Company 285 W. Huntington Drive 2600 South Delaware Street Arcadia, CA 91007 San Mateo, CA 94003 (626) 574-7223 (650) 524-9847