Home » Dobson, Hancock and Lyster named to Keeneland’s Advisory Board of Directors

Dobson, Hancock and Lyster named to Keeneland’s Advisory Board of Directors

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Cheyenne Stables’ Everett Dobson, Claiborne Farm President S. Walker Hancock Jr. and Ashview Farm Co-General Manager W. Gray Lyster IV have been named to Keeneland’s Advisory Board of Directors.

Dobson, Hancock and Lyster will begin their service at the Advisory Board meeting on Oct. 11. The Keeneland Board, which meets semi-annually during the track’s April and October race meets, represents a cross section of leaders in the Thoroughbred industry and Central Kentucky community.

“Everett, Walker and Gray each bring valuable talent and perspective to the Keeneland Board,” Keeneland President and CEO Bill Thomason said. “They will be wonderful assets and we thank them for serving.”

A native of Cheyenne, Oklahoma, Everett Dobson races under the name Cheyenne Stables and owns Candy Meadows Farm near Lexington, where he has some 30 broodmares. He serves on The Jockey Club’s Board of Stewards and as a Breeders’ Cup Director. He is Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association and Vice Chairman of the Executive Committee and Chairman of the American Graded Stakes Committee. Dobson is CEO of Dobson Technologies and its subsidiaries, which focus on operating a 3,000-mile fiber-optic network and a managed IT business serving enterprise customers throughout Oklahoma and North Texas. He also is a minority owner of the NBA’s Oklahoma City Thunder.

Walker Hancock succeeded his father, Seth, as president of Claiborne Farm in 2014, becoming the fourth generation of his family to run the storied farm near Paris, Kentucky, since it was established in 1910. He has spent his entire life in the Thoroughbred industry, working with yearlings and serving as a veterinary technician during the breeding season at Claiborne, and working on the race track with trainer Al Stall Jr. Hancock is a director of the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association and the Breeders’ Cup, and is a member of The Jockey Club and the American Graded Stakes Committee.

Gray Lyster is co-general manager of his family’s Ashview Farm near Versailles, Kentucky. Lyster participates in every aspect of the Thoroughbred business, from owner and breeder to farm operator, agent and sales consignor. He co-bred 2015 champion sprinter Runhappy. Lyster currently serves as president of the Thoroughbred Club of America.