Keeneland president and CEO Shannon Arvin was working with chief financial officer Hunter Stout last autumn when he mentioned in passing that he would have to miss his son's first T-Ball game.
When Arvin initially urged him to go, Stout declined since it was a typically busy Saturday with six races remaining. She insisted he rush off to see Jack do his darndest to put bat to ball.
"That's just how we prioritize," said Arvin, the first woman to lead Keeneland since its establishment in 1936.
She and her husband, Will, have two daughters, McCutchen, 16, and Bishop, 14. Arvin worked for 18 years as an attorney before becoming the eighth person to head the racing and sales company in 2021. She has long understood the difficulty of balancing home life with a demanding position.
"My family knows that they are my first priority. We talk a lot about the quality of time, not the quantity of time," she said. "I rush home when I am able to be with them and there are days when I am traveling and working and they understand that."
Time has been particularly precious because Arvin initiated and oversaw the largest capital project in Keeneland history at a cost of approximately $93 million. Fans attending the spring meet that runs from April 3-24 will have the opportunity to admire the centerpiece of that effort, the three-story Paddock Building.
The new addition features five high-end spaces: the 1936 Room, Sycamore Room, Dogwood Room, Ivy Room, and The Rooftop. Guests will have the opportunity to be remarkably close to the action—jockeys will walk through the 1936 Room on their way to the paddock—while enjoying a memorable experience in every way.
"The bottom line of the project and the decision to do the project was a sense of confidence in the future of the sport," Arvin said. "We are a company created by horsemen for horsemen. Our mission is to be a model racetrack and international sales company and this project definitely furthers our mission for both racing and sales."
Arvin describes herself as a "traditionalist." She made certain the new construction honored the past while providing modern amenities.
"Just like other entertainment venues, racing has to stay up to date with our facilities and with the experiences we offer," she said. "People come from all over the world and all over the country for our racing and sales and we want the level of hospitality to exceed expectations."
A great deal of thought and effort preceded construction. Before anything was done, the architect asked, "What will success look like with this project?"
Arvin's answer perhaps caught him a bit off guard. "It will look like you can't tell when this building was built," she told him. "It will look like it's always been here."
They went back and forth, with the architect concerned about designing something that would be current and not too 1936. Arvin and her team stayed true to their concept.
"No, you're not listening to us. We actually want it to look like our other buildings," Arvin said they told him. "We do honor the best of our traditions."
Valuable experience was gained when temporary structures were erected to accommodate the robust demand for seating at the Breeders' Cup World Championships. Keeneland will host the international extravaganza for the fourth time Oct. 30-31 featuring 14 races worth more than $34 million. The season-culminating event made previous Lexington stops in 2015, 2020, and 2022.
The Paddock Building only enhances Keeneland's strong appeal in the eyes of Drew Fleming, president and CEO of Breeders' Cup.
"Not only is it one of the most respected venues in the world, but it is also one of the most beautiful, located in the heart of horse country," he said of the tradition-rich site. "Many of the greatest barns and foundation stallions are just minutes down the road. Returning to Keeneland reinforces our connection to the heartbeat of Thoroughbred racing, to the sport's history and tradition and values."
He added, "Everything they do is world class."
From a racing and sales perspective, Keeneland is thriving under Arvin's leadership. The meet last fall generated a record $217,266,759 in all-sources wagering. The Keeneland September yearling sale achieved the highest gross ever realized at a Thoroughbred auction worldwide as 3,070 horses commanded $531.5 million. The upcoming spring meet will feature 19 stakes races worth a record $9.55 million.
Arvin hopes she is providing a role model for other women who aspire to prominent positions in the industry.
"I think it is important to get talented people in the racing industry and many of the talented people happen to be women," she said. "There are a lot more opportunities now than there used to be and I hope that will continue to grow.
"We certainly are seeing it grow at Keeneland. There are a lot of females in leadership positions and director's positions and they are doing an incredible job."
