Ben Atkinson: Del Mar Thoroughbred Club
![Ben Atkinson at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club](/sites/rtip.arizona.edu/files/styles/az_small/public/2024-02/Internship-Ben-rgb.jpg?itok=a7LBDreh)
![Ben DMTC](/sites/rtip.arizona.edu/files/styles/az_square/public/2022-11/ben_2.jpg?itok=ED8Dvg5F)
Ben with a bird's eye view in the patrol tower
For two summers I had the opportunity to intern at the prestigious Del Mar Thoroughbred Club. I was able to get a hands-on experience with the entire racing department along with the frontside operations of the track. I was able to work with some RTIP alumni and also other people who had various backgrounds in racing. I was able to shadow and learn from Tom Robbins and David Jerkens which gave me a much deeper knowledge of the sport. I was also able to have conversations with them and pick their brains about the industry and how they got to where they are today. In the mornings I would take entries for the races. In the afternoons I would do a various number of things; like being up in placing, on the patrol tower, with the stewards, at the starting gate, and much more. – Ben Atkinson