Bill Thomason has been elected to the American Horse Council Board of Trustees. Thomason has been the President and Chief Executive Officer of Keeneland Association in Lexington, Kentucky, since Sept. 1, 2012. Previously he was the Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Keeneland.

“I am very pleased to be serving on the AHC Board,” said Thomason. “I have participated with the AHC in various ways over the years, and very much appreciate the importance and good work they have done for many years. I am glad to be a part, and help however I can.”

“The AHC is very pleased that Bill Thomason has agreed to serve on the board,” said AHC president Jay Hickey. “He has been a leader in the racing industry for many years and his experience will be an excellent addition to the AHC’s Board.”

Thomason is a member of The Jockey Club, a board member of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association, Thoroughbred Racing Associations, Thoroughbred Racing Protective Bureau, Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, University of Kentucky Gluck Equine Research Foundation, Kentucky Chamber and Central Kentucky Chapter of the American Heart Association. He formerly served as the assistant treasurer for the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association/Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders and was a member of the audit committee of Breeders’ Cup Limited. Thomason also previously served as treasurer of the Thoroughbred Club of America.

In addition to his involvement in the equine industry, Thomason is an active community leader. He was chairman of the Greater Lexington Chamber of Commerce (now Commerce Lexington), chairman of the Lexington Arts and Cultural Council, and chairman of the Board of First United Methodist Church.

Thomason graduated from the University of Kentucky with a B.S. in Accounting in 1977 and a Masters in Business Administration in 1978. He worked for two years at the accounting firm of Alexander Grant & Co., before joining Mill Ridge Farm, where he worked for 28 years as Financial and Administrative Manager.

Thomason replaces Nick Nicholson, who was the head of Keeneland for many years and a past Chairman of the AHC. “Nick Nicholson has been involved with the AHC for nearly 30 years in various capacities,” noted Hickey. “We appreciate his long-standing service to our organization and the horse industry in general and know we can call on his expertise whenever we need it.”

As the national association representing all segments of the horse industry in Washington, D.C., the American Horse Council works daily to represent equine interests and opportunities. The AHC promotes and protects the industry by communicating with Congress, federal agencies, the media and the industry on behalf of all horse related interests each and every day. The AHC is member supported by individuals and organizations representing virtually every facet of the horse world from owners, breeders, veterinarians, farriers, breed registries and horsemen’s associations to horse shows, race tracks, rodeos, commercial suppliers and state horse councils.