Equibase Company announced today the appointment of Ian D. Highet, who has served on the Equibase Management Committee since 2010, as the company’s new chairman. Highet succeeds Nick Nicholson, the former president and chief executive officer of Keeneland Association, who will remain on the board.
Highet’s family has been involved in Thoroughbred breeding and racing for more than 100 years. A partner at the private equity firm Court Square Capital, Highet became a member of The Jockey Club in 2006 and was appointed to the board of stewards the following year. He currently serves as the organization’s secretary-treasurer.
“Ian’s deep passion for the Thoroughbred industry and his incisive business acumen will serve Equibase well in the years ahead,” said Nicholson.
Highet becomes the fourth chairman in the 25-year history of Equibase, following James E. “Ted” Bassett III, Alan Marzelli and Nicholson.
“It will be a great honor to serve in the role of chairman for Equibase,” Highet said. “The success of this organization is a testament to the leadership of Ted, Alan and Nick and the enthusiastic cooperation of our partner racetracks, and I look forward to being part of the next chapter.”
Nicholson has served as a member of the Equibase Management Committee since 1990 and, along with Marzelli, Hans Stahl and David Haydon of The Jockey Club, crafted the original business plan for Equibase. In his five years as chairman, Nicholson oversaw significant increases in fan engagement with Equibase data, with daily traffic across the Equibase electronic platforms reaching its current level of more than 1.8 million page views.
“Nick was part of the team that helped translate the concept of an industry-owned database into a reality,” said Equibase President and Chief Operating Officer Hank Zeitlin. “We are thankful he will remain a member of the Equibase Management Committee and are grateful to all the members of the committee, each of whom volunteers their time in service to the industry.”
In addition to Nicholson and Highet, the other members of the Equibase Management Committee are Peter Berube, Happy Broadbent, Sherwood Chillingworth, Steven Duncker, Jim Gagliano, Chris Kay, Chris McErlean, Ogden Mills Phipps, Mike Rogers and Josh Rubinstein.
Equibase Company LLC, a general partnership between The Jockey Club and the Thoroughbred Racing Associations of North America, was formed in 1990 to establish an industry-owned database of racing information. The company began full-scale operations on Jan. 1, 1991, and, through a network of chartcallers, collects past performance information from all Thoroughbred tracks in North America.
Through its website, mobile platform and mobile applications, Equibase offers a comprehensive array of free statistical information as well as premium handicapping products and reports in support of the North American Thoroughbred racing industry.
