The Texas Thoroughbred Association (TTA) has named Tracy Sheffield as the new executive director effective Jan. 1, replacing Mary Ruyle, who will stay on through July to help with the transition, according to a TTA press release on Thursday.
The holder of an Animal Science degree from Oregon State University, Sheffield is the founder and managing partner of T&L Veterinary Business Consulting. She has been a TTA member for more than 20 years and is active with the organization's Paddock Foundation, which helps find second careers for retired racehorses. Sheffield will resign her current position as TTA President and be replaced by Vice President Phil Leckinger.
“No one can replace Mary, but I'm excited to take on this new position with the TTA,” said Sheffield. “Certainly there are challenges for the Texas racing and breeding industry, but with a strong sales company and solid purses and incentives for Accredited Texas-breds, I think we are well positioned to meet those challenges. All TTA members and Texas horsemen and women owe Mary a debt of gratitude for her work over the years, and I'm thankful she will remain available through July.”
Ruyle started with the TTA in 1988 as a bookkeeper and worked her way up, eventually taking the executive director position in 2012. She received the Allen Bogan Memorial Award from the association for her service to the industry, as well as the JoAnn Weber Distinguished Service Award from the Texas Horse Racing Hall of Fame.
During her time as executive director, she oversaw the TTA's creation of a sales division to handle the annual Texas yearling and 2-year-old sales. Ruyle is the longest tenured employee in the history of the TTA, which was founded in 1955.
“I've made so many great friends during my time at the TTA, and I'm going to miss working with the dedicated board of directors and our hard-working members,” said Ruyle. “Tracy has been a great asset to have on the board, and I'm more than confident she will smoothly transition over to executive director.”
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