Sheffield Named TTA Executive Director

The Texas Thoroughbred Association has announced that Tracy Sheffield will take the position of executive director effective January 1, replacing Mary Ruyle, who will remain with the TTA through July to help with the transition. Sheffield will resign her current position as TTA President and be replaced by Vice President Phil Leckinger. Sheffield, who holds a degree in Animal Science from Oregon State University, is the founder and managing partner of T&L Veterinary Business Consulting and has been a TTA member for more than 20 years. Sheffield is a breeder who handles early training herself, and she has been especially active with the TTA's Paddock Foundation to help retired racehorses find a second career. Sheffield has served on the TTA board since 2017 and was elected president in 2022. "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. During her tenure, 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, which have both become leaders in the Southwest region. 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."