Magna Entertainment (MEC), Owner of Santa Anita Park,
Gulfstream Park and five other thoroughbred tracks, intends
to launch a Web site later this year that will "include
wagering capabilities," according to Matt Hegarty of the
DAILY RACING FORM. Magna CEO Mark Feldman: "MEC intends to
become the leading destination for news and information
related to the sport of horse racing -- including
dissemination of wagering information -- and for Internet and
television-based gaming." Feldman added the venture will
"interface telephone account wagering with totalizator
wagering pools, both developed internally by MEC and licensed
via strategic alliances with leading technology providers in
the fields of interactive gaming, streaming audio, and video
and others" (DAILY RACING FORM, 8/17).
ATHLETES ON SITE: Colts QB Peyton Manning becomes the
first NFL player to launch his Web site in English and
Spanish, with the debut of his site tomorrow through
AthletesDirect. The company will also launch a site for
Manning's father, Archie Manning (AthletesDirect).
Meanwhile, AthletesDirect has joined with Keen.com to offer
up for bid on eBay three ten-minute live phone calls with
surfer Kelly Slater (Keen.com)....SportsYA!, a Spanish - and
Portuguese-language sports portal, has signed Jackie Joyner-
Kersee as a columnist (SportsYA!).
NOTES: Sportscapsule, a video-on-demand, PPV content
company that enables kids and their families to view, edit,
enhance and save personal video over the Internet, announced
a partnership with Riddell Sports that runs until 2007. As
part of the deal, Riddell's direct sales force will offer
Sportscapsule's services directly to its customer base. In
addition, Riddell will take an equity stake in Sportscapsule
(Sportscapsule)....Belo Interactive has reached an agreement
with eFANshop to operate online sports stores at the Web
sites of Belo's TV stations and newspapers. eFANshop will
feature entertainment, sports merchandise and memorabilia
from national sports groups (eFANshop.com).
