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Dixiana Farm To Sponsor Keeneland’s Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup

Keeneland has announced that William and Donna Shively's Dixiana Farm is the new sponsor of the $500,000 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1), the Fall Meet's prestigious invitational turf stakes for 3-year-old fillies. The 37th running of the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Presented by Dixiana will be held Oct. 10 on the second Saturday of the Fall Meet.

“Keeneland is pleased that Dixiana has become the sponsor of the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup,” Keeneland President and CEO Bill Thomason said. “Dixiana has been a valued corporate partner through its sponsorship of other stakes at Keeneland, and the Shivelys are enthusiastic participants in our racing and sales. We are thrilled with Dixiana's new association with such a highly regarded international event as the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup.”

Dixiana is a 700-acre Thoroughbred breeding and racing operation in Lexington that dates from 1877 when it was established by Major Barack G. Thomas, considered one of the first to make a living by breeding and selling racehorses. The Shivelys purchased Dixiana in 2004 and have restored the farm while cultivating its rich legacy.

“Dixiana and Keeneland both play an iconic role in the Bluegrass and the horse industry, and we are natural partners in promoting the very best in Thoroughbred racing and breeding,” Bill Shively said. “As longtime Keeneland race sponsors, Donna and I are very excited about the opportunity to support this premier Grade 1 event.”

The Challenge Cup honors Queen Elizabeth II, an astute Thoroughbred breeder and owner who attended the races at Keeneland on Oct. 11, 1984, during her private six-day visit to Central Kentucky. That day, she watched a mock Thoroughbred sale in the Keeneland Sales Pavilion, met members of the jockey colony and presented a trophy to the connections of the first winner of her namesake race, Cherry Valley Farm's Sintra, who was ridden by Keith Allen for trainer Steven Penrod.

Each year, Keeneland invites accomplished fillies from the U.S. and beyond to compete in the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup. Winners of the 1 1/8-mile race include champion Perfect Sting and millionaires Affluent, Dayatthespa, Film Maker, Memories of Silver, Riskaverse, Rushing Fall, Ryafan, Sweet Talker, Ticker Tape (GB) and Vacare. Last year, The Queen's Magnetic Charm (GB) competed in the race.

Keeneland's 2020 Fall Meet offers 17 days of racing from Oct. 2-24. On Nov. 6-7, Keeneland will host the Breeders' Cup World Championships for the second time.

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Dixiana to Sponsor QE II Challenge Cup at Keeneland

William and Donna Shively’s Dixiana Farm is the new sponsor for the $500,000 GI Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup, one of this country’s most prestigious races for 3-year-old turf fillies. The QE II Challenge Cup Presented by Dixiana will be held on the second Saturday of Keeneland’s fall meet Oct. 10.

“Keeneland is pleased that Dixiana has become the sponsor of the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup,” Keeneland President and CEO Bill Thomason said. “Dixiana has been a valued corporate partner through its sponsorship of other stakes at Keeneland, and the Shivelys are enthusiastic participants in our racing and sales. We are thrilled with Dixiana’s new association with such a highly regarded international event as the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup.”

The Shivelys purchased Dixiana in 2004, a 700-acre breeding and racing operation in Lexington that dates back to 1877 when it was founded by Mayor Barack G. Thomas. He was widely recognized as one of the first to attempt to make a living by breeding and selling racehorses.

Dixiana is a previous sponsor of the GI Breeders’ Futurity and GIII Bourbon S. at Keeneland.

The Challenge Cup honors Queen Elizabeth II who attended the races at Keeneland in 1984 and presented the trophy to the winner of the inaugural running of the race, Cherry Valley Farm’s Sintra (Drone).

The Keeneland Fall meet runs Oct. 2-24 and the track will host the Breeders’ Cup championships for the second time in its history Nov. 6 and 7.

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Keeneland Realigns Racing And Sales Operations For Future Growth

Keeneland announced on Thursday a strategic realignment of its core racing and sales operations to strengthen its ability to execute its mission and better serve the needs of its global clientele.

Keeneland president-elect Shannon Arvin will serve as interim head of sales while a search is conducted this fall for a new vice president of sales. Arvin, who as a partner with Stoll Keenon Ogden (SKO) has served as corporate counsel to Keeneland since 2008 and as secretary and advisory member of Keeneland's Board of Directors since 2015, was named July 2 to succeed Bill Thomason as Keeneland President and CEO upon his retirement at the end of the year.

Under the realignment, Bob Elliston will become Keeneland's vice president of racing. With more than two decades of industry leadership experience, Elliston will focus his attention on advancing Keeneland's racing product, industry-wide safety and integrity initiatives, preparations for the upcoming Breeders' Cup World Championships and expanding Keeneland's mission to grow the sport.

“The demands of these two globally significant business lines require tremendous time and resources, especially as we navigate these unprecedented times and get ready for a fall season that includes two major sales, the Fall Meet and Breeders' Cup,” Keeneland president and CEO Bill Thomason said. “We understand the uncertainty and the extraordinary challenges our customers are experiencing due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We want them to know that we are all in this together, and we are committed to providing the best opportunities for them to succeed in the sales ring and on the race track. This realignment enables Keeneland to deliver on this promise when our industry needs it most.”

Arvin and Elliston both bring a wealth of expertise and passion for Keeneland to their roles and they will provide a seamless transition for the Keeneland team and its customers. In her position as counsel, Arvin has worked alongside the Keeneland sales and executive staffs on operational plans for the September Yearling Sale, safety protocols, online bidding and beyond. Elliston has led racing operations since 2016, bolstering safety and welfare protocols, introducing the position of equine safety director and negotiating the return of the Breeders' Cup.

As the world's largest Thoroughbred auction company, Keeneland conducts four sales annually, which last year grossed more than $627 million and includes the prestigious September Yearling and November Breeding Stock Sales. Keeneland recently launched its online auction platform, Keeneland Digital Sales Ring.

“The Keeneland sales are an important economic engine for Keeneland and vital to the global Thoroughbred industry,” Arvin said. “Over these next few months, I look forward to working alongside Bill, listening to our customers, learning from our sales team and evaluating opportunities to further enhance Keeneland's premier sales.”

In addition to spring and fall race meet operations and the track's multimillion-dollar stakes program, Elliston will continue to oversee initiatives critical to the health of the sport such as safety and integrity innovations, elevating the racing experience for Keeneland customers and expanding outreach to grow the sport for future generations.

“As we saw during the recent Summer Meet, racing at Keeneland is second to none, and I am excited to be able to focus my attention on preparing for the Fall Meet and Breeders' Cup,” Elliston said. “I am proud of the great strides we have made, particularly in the areas of safety and fan development, and I look forward to building on the foundation we have put in place.”

Keeneland will hold its September Sale from Sept. 13-25 and Fall Meet from Oct. 2-24; Breeders' Cup returns Nov. 6-7, immediately followed by the November Sale, which begins Nov. 9.

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Keeneland Announces Operations Realignment

Keeneland is undergoing a “strategic realignment of its core racing and sales operations to strengthen its ability to execute its mission and better serve the needs of its global clientele,” it announced Thursday.

Shannon Arvin, who it was announced earlier this month will succeed Bill Thomason as the company’s President and CEO at the end of 2020, will serve as Interim Head of Sales while a search is conducted this fall to fill that role. While a partner at the Lexington law firm 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.

As part of the realignment, Bob Elliston–previously Vice President of Racing and Sales–will now focus his attention on Keeneland’s racing product as Vice President of Racing.

“The demands of these two globally significant business lines require tremendous time and resources, especially as we navigate these unprecedented times and get ready for a fall season that includes two major sales, the Fall Meet and Breeders’ Cup,” Keeneland President and CEO Bill Thomason said. “We understand the uncertainty and the extraordinary challenges our customers are experiencing due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We want them to know that we are all in this together, and we are committed to providing the best opportunities for them to succeed in the sales ring and on the race track. This realignment enables Keeneland to deliver on this promise when our industry needs it most.”

Keeneland will hold its September yearling sale from Sept. 13-25; its Fall Meet Oct. 2-24; will host the Breeders’ Cup World Championships Nov. 6-7; and the November Breeding Stock sale beginning Nov. 9. It recently held a five-day, stakes-filled summer meet brought about by scheduling changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Elliston added, “As we saw during the recent Summer Meet, racing at Keeneland is second to none, and I am excited to be able to focus my attention on preparing for the Fall Meet and Breeders’ Cup. I am proud of the great strides we have made, particularly in the areas of safety and fan development, and I look forward to building on the foundation we have put in place.”

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