The Kentucky Equine Education Project (KEEP) board of directors elected Corey Johnsen March 29 to serve as its chairman of the board. Johnsen replaces former Kentucky governor Brereton C. Jones, who resigned earlier this month.

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 in Grand Prairie, 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 racehorses 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