Shannon Bishop Arvin serves as Keeneland’s 8th President and CEO.
As a partner with Stoll Keenon Ogden (SKO), Arvin has served as corporate counsel to Keeneland since 2008 and as Secretary and Advisory Member of Keeneland’s Board of Directors since 2015. Arvin was named successor to President and CEO Bill Thomason on July 2, 2020.
Through her work with SKO’s Lexington office, where she has practiced since 2002, Arvin has represented Thoroughbred owners and prominent industry organizations in Kentucky and around the world, among them Keeneland, Breeders’ Cup Ltd., Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association and the National Thoroughbred Racing Association. She also serves on the University of Kentucky’s Gluck Equine Research Foundation Board of Directors and is a member of The Jockey Club.
Arvin brings to her role a unique perspective of Keeneland’s rich history and what the iconic track means to horsemen, fans and Central Kentucky. Her grandfather W.T. “Bish” Bishop was the first General Manager of Keeneland when the track opened in 1936. Her father, the late William T. “Buddy” Bishop III, grew up at Keeneland, living in an apartment next to the Clubhouse. Buddy Bishop’s lifelong service to Keeneland included positions as Director, Secretary, Trustee and Counsel. He was also a partner at SKO and worked with his daughter at the firm until his passing in 2008.
A Lexington native, Arvin has deep ties to the Central Kentucky community and the horse industry.
In addition to her aforementioned affiliations, she currently serves as Secretary of Horse Country, Director of Kentucky Bank and Director of The Lexington School; is Chair and Director of Bluegrass Care Navigators (formerly Hospice of the Bluegrass) and is Past President of the Thoroughbred Club of America.
Arvin graduated from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, with a B.A. in Political Science, International Studies, with High Honors. She graduated from the University of Kentucky College of Law in 2002.
She and her husband, Will, have two daughters, Bishop and McCutchen.
