Q&A with Arvin, 1st woman to be CEO of Keeneland

Shannon Arvin will oversee her first spring meet at Keeneland Race Course after succeeding Bill Thomason as president and chief executive officer upon his retirement at the end of last year. She is the first woman to hold these positions. As a partner with Stoll Keenon Ogden, Arvin had served as corporate counsel to Keeneland since 2008.

Keeneland’s spring meet runs from Friday through April 23, with no racing Monday or Tuesday and this Easter Sunday. The meet will enjoy a fast start Saturday with an attractive card that features the $800,000 Blue Grass Stakes (G2) and the $400,000 Ashland (G1).

[RELATED – 'It's going to be loud': Keeneland set for return of spring meet]

Arvin discussed a wide range of topics during a question-and-answer session for Horse Racing Nation.

What does it mean to you to be the first woman in your position?

“The significance of that is not lost on me, and I’m excited about it. Anybody would be excited to be in this position. I’m so excited for my first race meet here. I hope I can be inspirational to others out there who are doing their best and putting their best foot forward every day that hard work pays off.”

Do you see yourself as a role model for girls and young women?

“I think we all try to live in a way that is an example for others. To the extent that it is helpful to others and an inspiration to them I am honored by that.”

How did your time as corporate counsel to Keeneland help prepare you for your new position?

“I think it helped me a lot. My institutional knowledge over that time really helped me get a good understanding of Keeneland and our mission and the way we do things. We are really lucky to work for a company where our intentions are to do the right thing. That’s the bottom line. That’s our guiding mission, to be a model racetrack and leading sales company.”

I know Keeneland prides itself on investing in the future of racing. How do you go about that?

“Carefully and strategically. With the pandemic, it certainly has been a difficult year. But I think it also has brought us a lot of opportunities that we can take a look at the way we do things and take the best of our traditions and innovate. That is what we have to do for the future of racing. Keeneland is a founding member of the Thoroughbred Safety Coalition, which I think is a really important organization, tracks working together to really think about what will benefit our sport and ensure we carry on successfully into the future. The Horseracing Safety and Integrity Act, Keeneland has been very supportive of that. I think that, too, is a game changer in ensuring we are doing the very best we can every day for the safety of the horse.”

You referred to the Safety and Integrity Act. There is some disagreement about it. Why are you supportive?

“That’s interesting, because when I started practicing law and following the sport decades ago, I probably wouldn’t have been. I think people are probably rightly skeptical of the federal government making a system better. But honestly, after working in the industry for 20 years and seeing the patchwork of regulation in 38 jurisdictions and how much that system doesn’t work, it makes me really excited about having one unified group. Every major league has a central organization that helps make the rules and enforces them, and that is what this is going to be.”

Where do you stand on the Lasix issue?

“Honestly, I think Lasix has gotten in the way of our making progress sooner. I’m supportive of the no-Lasix rule that the Thoroughbred Safety Coalition supports, and it’s now in our Kentucky regulations. I’m supportive of that initiative.”

How do you view the use of the crop? Is it a safety measure or a bit cruel?

“I think the answer is a little bit gray there. In all of my years of dealing with industry issues, it’s interesting to me that in the last two years the crop has been a new one. It is a public perception issue, certainly. I think there is some balance in making sure the jockeys can ride safely and that there is not an overshift that is potentially harmful to the sport and the horse.”

Everyone wants to see sound Thoroughbreds. Can the breeding industry do more to provide that?

“We work every day to make sure that is what is happening. We do all we can to make sure the breed is as sound as it can be in the ways that we can impact that and certainly that the horses on our track are as safe as they can possibly be.”

How can equine fatalities be reduced?

“I think it is a matter of continuing to make that an absolute priority. We certainly have gone through our processes in the last few years. In bringing Dr. Stuart Brown, our equine safety director, on board, he’s out there every morning. We have cameras in new places. We have safety agreements that every trainer is required to have on file with us before they are permitted to enter a race. We are truly doing everything we can to ensure that the horses remain safe and that the jockeys remain safe as well.”

How important is it for Keeneland to establish itself in the Breeders’ Cup rotation?

“We love hosting the Breeders’ Cup. I think it’s phenomenal to have that event here where so many of the foals that were born here have become participants in the event. It’s really a full circle moment. We have a great relationship with the Breeders’ Cup, and we really enjoy promoting the event with them. I think that’s good for the industry as a whole. I also think it is positive that it rotates. We help keep it more special at Keeneland when it doesn’t happen here every year. We’re proud to be part of the rotation, and we certainly hope that will continue.”

How do you view Keeneland’s role in the community?

“In going back to our mission, that has been critically important since the time we were formed in 1936. We definitely feel it is part of our obligation to give back to the community here in Lexington and also to the horse community in general. There are so many fascinating people who comprise this sport, and Keeneland is lucky to be part of the fabric of the Bluegrass.”

Is there one item that tops your agenda?

“It’s just doing all we can to share how fabulous this sport is. For decades we’ve heard commentary about how the sport has all of these problems. I’m so ready to move past that dialogue and look to the things that will carry us forward and ensure that the next generation and the ones after that continue watching this great sport.”