The Texas Thoroughbred Association Sales is known as a strong regional sale with a high percentage of stakes winners for the number of horses consigned. Knowledgeable buyers know to give the TTA Sales a serious look when searching for prospects and consignors know that the buyers will be there.
What many people don’t realize is that there is more happening at a TTA sale.
The TTA has created a sales internship program to introduce college students to the career paths open to them in the Thoroughbred industry. Internships are available at both the two-year-old in training sale and at the yearling sale. Students from Texas A&M University, Tarleton State University, and Texas Tech University have all taken advantage of the program.
Chloe Dale, an intern at the 2026 Two-Year-Old in training sale, said the internship experience was a revelation. “I had no idea how many career paths are available in the Thoroughbred industry. The internship gave me the opportunity to meet mentors and industry leaders,” Dale said. “I have always been interested in the Thoroughbred industry, but I had no idea how to gain entry. The TTA internship program has opened doors for me. I now have a summer job preparing yearlings for the upcoming sale”
The internship program includes assisting TTA director of sales, Foster Bridewell. “I enjoy having the interns with us,” Bridewell said. “It makes a big difference having some extra hands to help out where needed.”
The program includes meeting with consignors, veterinarians, announcers, and auctioneers. The interns learn about the timing process, how the repository works, and how the sales office is run. The interns also meet with the director of racing at Lone Star Park, the track’s vice-president of operations, licensing clerks, and Texas Racing Commission Stewards.
All the interns agree that one of their favorite parts of the program is working with
TTA board member Carl Moore. Carl Moore spends two or three hours with the interns going over conformation points and what they mean to the horse’s athletic potential. He then takes the interns to look at horses and asks them to evaluate them based on what they have just learned.
The internship program has additional benefits. Everyone in the horse industry agrees finding good help can be difficult. Glen Robertson of Lubbock Texas hired Chloe Dale for the summer to help prepare yearlings for sale. “Hiring Chloe has worked out well for me, he said. “I needed more help and by hiring a TTA sales intern, I know I would be getting someone with enthusiasm and a desire to learn.”
“Five months ago, I was a TTA Sales intern. Now I am returning to the sale as part of the consignment team for Mr. Robertson,” Chloe said. “I know that I want to stay in the Thoroughbred industry when I am finished with my education at Texas Tech University.”
Tracy Sheffield, executive director of the Texas Thoroughbred Association, developed the internship program. “I feel it is so important that young people see the Thoroughbred industry as a career pathway,” Sheffield said. “I am so pleased to be able to offer this opportunity to interested students.”
The Texas Thoroughbred Association runs two sales a year, a two-year-old in training sale in the spring and a yearling sale in late summer. Horses who pass through the TTA Sales ring in either of our sales become eligible to run in six total stakes races restricted to sales graduates with purses totaling $700,000.
For more information on the internship program, call the Texas Thoroughbred Association or email Tracy Sheffield at tracys@texasthoroughbred.com