EXHIBIT 23.6



                        CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

We consent to the reference to our firm under the caption "Experts" in the Post-
Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement (Form S-3) and related
prospectus of Magna Entertainment Corp. for the registration of 7,339,724
shares of its Class A Subordinate Voting Stock and to the incorporation by
reference therein of our report dated October 4, 1999, except paragraph 1 of
Note 5 as to which the date is October 19, 1999, with respect to the combined
financial statements of Golden Gate Fields consisting of Pacific Racing
Association's operations subject to the licensing provisions of the California
Horse Racing Board, Ladbroke Racing California, Inc. and Ladbroke Land Holdings,
Inc. (wholly owned subsidiaries of Ladbroke Racing Corporation), included in the
Registration Statement on Form S-1 of Magna Entertainment Corp. originally filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Securities Act of
1933 on January 14, 2000 (File No. 333-94791).


                                                      /s/ Ernst & Young LLP
                                                      ---------------------
                                                      Chartered Accountants


August 29, 2001
Toronto, Canada