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Tuesday, September 10, 2013Contact: Louis Romanet
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Nick NICHOLSON, Former President & CEO, Keeneland Association, to Deliver Keynote Speech at 47th International Conference of Horseracing Authorities.

Nick NICHOLSON, Former President & CEO, Keeneland Association, to Deliver Keynote Speech 
at 47th International Conference of Horseracing Authorities.

 

Nick NICHOLSON, Former President & CEO, Keeneland Association, to Deliver Keynote Speech at 47th International Conference of Horseracing Authorities.
 
The LONGINES and IFHA International Award of Merit will be presented for the first time during the Conference.


The former president & CEO of Keeneland Association, Mr Nick NICHOLSON, will share insights gained from his career in horse racing as the keynote speaker at the 47th International Conference of Horseracing Authorities on Monday, October 7, at the France Galop Offices in Boulogne-Billancourt, France.

“As president & CEO of Keeneland Association, Mr NICHOLSON skillfully preserved the traditions of an historic racing and sales organization and introduced many important innovations during his tenure,” said Louis ROMANET, chairman of the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities. “Additionally, throughout his career, Mr NICHOLSON was at the forefront on a number of key efforts that have been favorable both to the North American and international horse racing industry. We are honored to have him as keynote speaker at the International Conference of Horseracing Authorities.”

Nick NICHOLSON is the former president of Keeneland Association, a position he held from January 2000, retiring in September 2012. Prior to joining Keeneland, Mr NICHOLSON was the executive vice president and executive director of The Jockey Club (US). Before joining The Jockey Club in 1989, he was executive vice president of the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association/Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders. In addition, Mr NICHOLSON helped to form the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) and served as its first chief operating officer. He is currently the chairman of Equibase Company.

Mr NICHOLSON will speak about the conference’s main topic, Developing and Promoting International Competition, but will also touch upon challenges and other important issues encountered during his time in horse racing.

The International Conference of Horseracing Authorities, chaired by Louis ROMANET, will spotlight two main topics. The first focuses on the challenges faced with the international movement of horses and will showcase presentations from Mr Bernard VALLAT, director general of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), and Dr Brian STEWART, Racing Victoria's head of Equine Welfare and Veterinary Services and chairman of the International Movement of Horses Committee. It will also include a panel discussion moderated by Mr Winfried ENGELBRECHT-BRESGES, chief executive officer of The Hong Kong Jockey Club and vice chairman of the IFHA.

Mr James GAGLIANO, president & chief operating officer of The Jockey Club, will moderate the second topic that centers on the marketing and branding of horse racing with panel discussion and presentations from Mr Michael MULVIHILL, senior vice president of programming & research, FOX Sports Media Group, Mr Jean-Christophe GILETTA, executive deputy general director, communication, marketing & development, France Galop, and Mr William CARSTANJEN, president & chief operating officer, Churchill Downs Incorporated.
 
The conference will also feature respective reports on the activities of European & Mediterranean Horseracing Federation (EMHF) and Asian Racing Federation (ARF) by Mr Brian KAVANAGH, chief executive of Horseracing Ireland and chairman of EMHF, and Mr YU Pang Fey, president & chief executive of the Singapore Turf Club and ARF chairman, special body for developing racing jurisdictions.

Dr Jorge BATLLE, president of Uruguay from 2000 to 2005, will deliver a presentation on Uruguayan racing and breeding. In addition, Dr Koji SATO, Japan Racing Association presidential counselor for foreign affairs, will speak to the Japanese racing and breeding industry. The IFHA executive office will also review current global economic trends in breeding and racing from 2012 and the first half of 2013.

Louis ROMANET, IFHA Chaiman and Juan Carlos CAPELLI, LONGINES’ Vice President, Head of International Marketing will present the first “LONGINES and IFHA International Award of Merit” to an outstanding international personality of the horseracing industry who will be nominated by a committee including IFHA Chaiman and Vice Chairmen and Longines’ Vice President.

The IFHA will, for the first time, provide a live video stream of the Open Forum of the International Conference of Horseracing Authorities. The open forum of the conference begins at 10:30 CEST and can be viewed at ifhaonline.org. A replay of the live video stream will be available in the days following the conference.

The first International Conference of Horseracing Authorities was organized and hosted by the Société d'Encouragement in Paris, France, on October 9, 1967. Since 1994, the annual conference has been organized by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities at France Galop and chaired by Louis ROMANET.
 
About The International Federation of Horseracing Authorities
For more information on the IFHA, please visit www.ifhaonline.org.

About LONGINES 
LONGINES has been based at Saint-Imier in Switzerland since 1832. Its watchmaking expertise reflects a strong devotion to tradition, elegance and performance. LONGINES has generations of experience as official timekeeper of world championships and as partner of international sports federation. Known for the elegance of its timepieces, LONGINES is a member of the Swatch Group Ltd, the World’s leading manufacturer of horological products. With the winged hourglass as its emblem, the brand has outlets in over 130 countries.
LONGINES is the Official Partner and Official Watch of the IFHA and the sponsor of THE LONGINES WORLD’S BEST RACEHORSES RANKINGS.

 

E-Mail : chairman@ifhaonline.org