Pettigrew Gives RTIP Students an Inside Look at Texas Racing
Race Track Industry Program students recently welcomed Brian Pettigrew, Vice President and General Manager of Texas Racing Operations, for a conversation about racetrack management, marketing, innovation and the many options students have in the racing industry. Pettigrew runs both Sam Houston Race Park in Houston and Retama Park near San Antonio.
Pettigrew’s career began with an interest in sports, marketing and advertising before building a career in horse racing that eventually led him to work for the Breeders’ Cup. He later stepped outside racing to work in golf before returning to the industry in Texas in 2023. “Basically, every move I made in my career, I was able to take what I learned and apply it to new role” Pettigrew told students.
Since returning to Texas racing, Pettigrew has focused on creating greater cooperation between Sam Houston and Retama Park. The properties had previously operated under different ownership, and one of his first priorities was bringing their teams together. “My job was to get the two tracks to work together,” Pettigrew said, explaining that the effort included “getting the marketing teams to work together, the social media teams, operations, our track maintenance teams, everybody working together.”
Another major part of Pettigrew’s role is working with the horsemen groups that make up Texas racing. Unlike some racing jurisdictions dominated primarily by Thoroughbreds, Texas has also has a strong Quarter Horse tradition, along with Paint and Arabian racing. Pettigrew said working successfully with those different groups often comes down to understanding their individual cultures and building trust.
Pettigrew also shared some of the marketing initiatives being used to make racing more approachable for new customers. One of those initiatives is Bet Central, which places trained employees in an easily accessible location where first-time visitors can ask questions, receive a free program and learn how to use betting machines.
Pettigrew explained that new customers regularly arrive at the racetrack interested in participating but unsure where to begin. “New customers arrive at the track, they walk up with their money in their hands, and they ask, ‘What do I do?’” Pettigrew said. Bet Central employees are there to guide them through the process.
For RTIP students, some of Pettigrew’s most valuable feedback came when the conversation shifted to career opportunities. Pettigrew emphasized that an education specifically focused on the racing industry can provide students with a tremendous advantage.
“You will bring a lot of value to our team, even if it’s a summer internship at both of our properties,” Pettigrew said. He also encouraged students to consider gaining experience in the racing office, an area he described as difficult to staff but incredibly valuable for learning the business. Students working in the racing office can gain hands-on exposure to taking entries, clocking horses, regulations and interactions with horsemen. Pettigrew described the busy entry process as a “crash course in racing,” but said the knowledge gained there can benefit someone even if they move into another area of racetrack management.
That message reflected much of Pettigrew’s own career. His path has included marketing, international racing, professional sports and now overseeing multiple racing operations. Each experience added another piece to his understanding of the industry. For students preparing for their own careers, his visit provided a reminder that there is no single path into racing and that experience across different areas of the business can become an asset later. Pettigrew ended the conversation with an invitation for RTIP students interested in gaining firsthand experience in Texas racing.
“Come see us,” Pettigrew said. “We would love to have you guys in San Antonio or Houston.”