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John Nicholson:
John Nicholson has been Executive Director of the Kentucky Horse Park since 1997. Prior to that he was Director of Sales for the launch of the international equestrian trade show, Equitana USA from 1994-96.
As the park's executive director, John has overseen its expansion to include a new climate-controlled indoor arena, an outdoor stadium, and 35 equine organization tenants in the park's National Horse Center. In 2008 he accepted the Special Eclipse Award, the highest honor in the Thoroughbred industry, on behalf of the park. Under John's guidance, the park's International Museum of the Horse has hosted several international blockbuster exhibitions, its most recent, A Gift from the Desert: The Art, History and Culture of the Arabian Horse, the largest collection of Arabian art and artifacts ever assembled, will open in May, 2010.
In 1997, John began efforts to acquire the World Equestrian Games for the Kentucky Horse Park and he currently serves as President of the World Games 2010 Foundation which is organizing the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.
He stated, "The Kentucky Horse Park represents the continued interaction of the horse and mankind, which is just as relevant in the 21st century as it was in the 18th century. The deep and abiding bond between the two is as strong today as ever, and the park's commitment to this relationship and to equine education, competition and welfare is equally strong."