Nicole Walker is Vice President at The Stronach Group, a world-class entertainment and real estate development company with Thoroughbred horse racing and pari-mutuel wagering at the core. At The Stronach Group, she works closely with her mother, Belinda Stronach, on engaging the next generation of fans in the sport of Thoroughbred horse racing by helping to shape many areas of the business including the consumer facing brand 1/ST. Pronounced “First,” 1/ST represents The Stronach Group’s continued movement toward redefining Thoroughbred horse racing and the ecosystem that drives it.

Nicole plays a role in the development of partnerships and alliances for the company’s premier racing events such as the Pegasus World Cup and the Preakness Stakes. She was instrumental in the creation of the partnership between 1/ST and the Split Rock Jumping Tour that launched a new FEI World Cup Jumping qualifier and CSI5*-W event at Santa Anita Park, California, in November 2024. Additionally, she works with the 1/ST team to help inform the company’s social media footprint and serves as a spokesperson.

As an equestrian athlete, Nicole made her Canadian Equestrian Team debut at the 2019 Pan American Games in Lima, Peru. She first enjoyed success in the equitation ring as a junior competitor. At the 2010 Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto, Ontario, she won the Jump Canada Medal National Final riding SS San Remo and finished second in the Running Fox CET Medal National Final. A year later, the pair returned to successfully claim the 2011 Running Fox CET Medal National Final title. In 2017, she was named the Canadian Under 25 National Champion riding Excellent B and followed up a year later by winning the 2018 Canadian Show Jumping Championships with Falco van Spieveld.

She made her Nations’ Cup debut at the 2019 Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, Florida, riding “Falco.” Her stellar performance led to selection for two more Nations’ Cup appearances that spring in Coapexpan, Mexico, and Langley, British Columbia, where she led the Canadian team to victory on home ground. Her most recent Nations’ Cup appearance was at the 2026 Winter Equestrian Festival where Canada enjoyed a podium finish.

Nicole is based at her family’s Adena Springs in Aurora, Ontario, and trains with 2012 Olympic individual bronze medalist Cian O’Connor of Ireland. She is a graduate of Canada’s Wilfred Laurier University and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Environment Studies and Business Management.