The Kentucky Equine Education Project board of directors elected Corey Johnsen March 29 to serve as its chairman of the board. Johnsen replaces former Kentucky governor Governor Brereton C. Jones.
Johnsen, a resident of Midway, Ky., is an owner and breeder of Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses and a racetrack executive. Johnsen currently serves as president of Kentucky Downs in Franklin, Ky., and was president of Lone Star Park at Grand Prairie in Texas. He served as president of the Thoroughbred Racing Associations from 2005-2007, and has international racing experience, helping open new racetracks in Mexico and Uruguay.
In addition to his racetrack experience, Johnsen has a long history as a breeder and owner, and is a partner in a Kentucky breeding farm. Together with his partners, Johnsen owns numerous stallions, mares, and foals in Kentucky, New York, Florida, Oklahoma, and Argentina, as well as race horses in both North and South America.
“Corey has the full breadth of industry experience,” commented KEEP vice chairman Bill Casner. “Not only has he been a fantastic racing executive, but he also participates and is passionate about the racing and breeding side of the business. Corey has also demonstrated a significant commitment to our grassroots efforts and the promotion of non-race breeds. He has led tough industry fights in other states and has gotten results, including leading one of the most successful Breeders’ Cup events at Lone Star Park. We are very lucky to have someone of Corey’s caliber to lead this organization forward.”
“I find it ironic that I have been elected as the new chairman of KEEP,” commented Johnsen. “When I was at Lone Star Park and lobbying the Texas legislature, I traveled to Kentucky to visit with the staff of KEEP to study their best practices. I was so impressed by the organization that it was a major factor in my decision to make an investment in the Kentucky horse industry.
“It is an honor to have a leadership position in KEEP. I am a strong believer in the basic principles of the organization. First, any action should benefit all breeds and disciplines of horses. And, if we stay united, we can accomplish great things. I want to thank Governor Jones for his outstanding leadership, and I look forward to working on behalf of KEEP and this great industry.”
For more information on KEEP visit www.horseswork.com.