[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 4]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 5869-5870]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO NICK NICHOLSON

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. HAROLD ROGERS

                              of kentucky

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 26, 2012

  Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a 
man who has served as a true Kentucky leader, innovator, and 
businessman, Nick Nicholson. On April 18th, 2012, Nicholson announced 
his retirement as CEO of Keeneland. This remarkable Thoroughbred 
enthusiast has forever impacted the Commonwealth of Kentucky, the horse 
industry and most indelibly, Lexington's Keeneland Race Course. By 
implementing new technology, expanding racing enthusiasm, and bringing 
sound accounting and business management practices, Nicholson has 
contributed to making Keeneland the top-rated North American track for 
the last four years. Over the past 13 years, Nicholson and Keeneland 
have thrived during a time of industry contraction. I commend Mr. 
Nicholson on his dedicated service as the Keeneland Association's chief 
executive and as an astute leader in the Bluegrass.
  In his youth, Nicholson developed his interest for horse racing when 
attending Keeneland races with his grandfather while growing up in 
Central Kentucky. Nicholson's early career began in Washington, DC, 
where he served as executive assistant to Kentucky Senator Wendell 
Ford. He next went on to serve as the executive vice president of the 
Kentucky Thoroughbred Association where he was instrumental in the 
drafting and passage of legislation that permits interstate track 
wagering. In 1989, he became the executive vice president and director 
of the Jockey Club, an organization dedicated to the improvement of 
Thoroughbred breeding and racing. While employed by this organization, 
he most notably introduced the world's first interactive Thoroughbred 
registration system. In 2000, he joined the Keeneland family and became 
Keeneland's sixth president.
  In his 13 years serving as Keeneland's president, Nicholson led the 
industry by introducing an all-weather surface that has made Keeneland 
the safest major racetrack in North America. Nicholson has also led 
Keeneland in setting numerous attendance and wagering records for its 
race meetings, including an all-time record of 250,163 attendees during 
its 75th Anniversary meet in October 2011, and an all-time one-day 
record of 40,617 attendees for the 2012 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes. 
During his tenure, Keeneland's auction company's top sales figures 
included $11.7 million for Meydan City at the 2006 September Yearling 
Sale and has amassed more than $7 billion in total gross sales since 
2000. He also led many efforts to update Keeneland with several 
construction projects, including the completion of a new outdoor 
walking ring; an enclosure of the first floor of the clubhouse, the 
renovation of the historic Keeneland Sales Pavilion, the construction 
of the Keeneland Library and the restoration of Keene Place. For his 
many contributions to the industry, Nicholson was honored with the 
Lifetime Service Award from the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders 
Association, as well as The Jockey Club Gold Medal. In 2004, he was 
honored by election as a member into the Jockey Club.
  Nicholson is a highly active member of his community and has served 
on the board of the Board of Trustees of UK Healthcare, Urban League, 
Commerce Lexington Inc., KET Commonwealth Fund, Transylvania 
University, Shakertown and Central Bank. Nicholson is a husband and 
father of two, as well as a graduate of Wake Forest University and the 
University of Kentucky College of Law.

[[Page 5870]]

  Nicholson has served as a remarkable guide for Keeneland as the 
racetrack president. Through his leadership, wisdom, and outstanding 
vision, Nicholson has solidified Keeneland's status as an industry 
leader and treasured Kentucky tradition. Mr. Speaker, I ask my 
colleagues to join me in honoring a true leader and visionary and wish 
him well in his new endeavors, Mr. Nick Nicholson.

                          ____________________