Rob Werstler will retire as Executive Director of the Texas Quarter Horse Association, with Director of Racing Scott Sherwood set to assume the role while continuing to oversee the association’s racing department.

By Leann Noguera, StallioneSearch

ELGIN, TX–JANUARY 23, 2026–After more than four decades in Quarter Horse racing—and a lifetime shaped by the sport—Rob Werstler will retire as Executive Director of the Texas Quarter Horse Association (TQHA) in March, 2026, concluding a respected tenure that culminated in his appointment to the association’s top leadership role in 2021.

“The TQHA has been a blessing to me and my family. I want to thank everyone who has supported me over the years. I love this industry, the horses, the people. I leave the TQHA in good hands. Our staff is second to none," commented Rob Werstler.

Werstler will hand over the reins to Scott Sherwood, TQHA’s current Director of Racing, who will transition into the dual role of Executive Director/Director of Racing, ensuring continuing success for the organization’s racing operations and long-term direction.

“Rob and I have known each other for a long time and have been very good friends during our years working together as well as prior to that. I feel we made a great team at TQHA, and I’m going to miss our in-depth discussions about Quarter Horse Racing, football, and other sports, and just life in general. One thing I do know is that he will always be just a phone call away should I have a question or need advice,” said Scott Sherwood

Mark Rigby, DVM, President of the TQHA, expressed gratitude on behalf of the TQHA Board of Directors, stating, "I want to thank Rob for the excellent job he has done leading the TQHA over the past five years. We feel very fortunate to have someone with Scott's credentials and experience to continue guiding the organization in the future."

Rob Werstler, A Career Built from the Ground Up

Werstler’s path in the industry was set early. Raised in a racing family, he grew up around the backstretch and learned the business firsthand from his father who trained Thoroughbreds.

Werstler spent every summer working alongside him throughout his college years—an experience that helped shape the work ethic and practical knowledge that would define his professional career.

Rob Werstler will be retiring as TQHA’s Executive Director.
© Dustin Orona Photography

A graduate of Florida State University with a degree in criminology, Werstler soon found his calling on the regulatory and racing administration side of the sport. His first job as a racing official came at Keeneland in 1979, launching a long and respected stretch in racing oversight and management.

Over the years, Werstler worked as a racing official at major venues including Hialeah, Gulfstream, Calder, Aksarben, Remington Park, and others, establishing a reputation as a steady and knowledgeable professional in the industry.

In 1987, he briefly worked for the Florida Department of Agriculture, before returning to the track—where his career continued to build momentum in Quarter Horse racing.

Werstler’s Quarter Horse credentials expanded significantly during his time at Remington Park, where he served as Quarter Horse racing secretary from 1990 to 1997. That period placed him at the center of one of the nation’s most active Quarter Horse racing circuits, and helped solidify his leadership reputation in the racing office.

In 1998, Werstler joined TQHA as Director of Racing, beginning what became a defining chapter for both his career and the association. For more than two decades, he played a central role in guiding Texas Quarter Horse racing through evolving industry conditions, regulatory changes, and modern demands on racing operations.

His commitment and expertise ultimately led to his appointment as Executive Director in 2021, a role in which he helped steer the association through a critical period for Texas racing and for the state’s Quarter Horse industry.

Now, after years of service and a lifelong career built on dedication to the sport, Werstler will step away with the respect of those who have worked alongside him in the industry.

Scott Sherwood to Lead Next Chapter
Stepping into the position is Scott Sherwood, who joined TQHA in August 2021 as Director of Racing and will now assume expanded responsibilities as Executive Director/Director of Racing.

Director Of Racing’s Scott Sherwood will be taking the reins as the new TQHA Executive Director.© Scarlett Hill Facebook

Sherwood brings decades of hands-on experience across multiple sectors of racing, from the barn area to the racing office, and from simulcast development to operational leadership.

Sherwood, 62, lives in Luling, Texas, and is married to Kristie Sherwood. He grew up in Goliad, Texas, and first established himself in racing through direct backstretch work—starting as a groom and later riding as a jockey at Texas’ non-pari-mutuel tracks during the 1980s.

He began working for Bobby Hoff while still in high school and later spent four years working for Leon Bard at Windham Ranch while attending Texas A&M, experiences that helped shape his perspective on the horseman side of the business.

Sherwood earned his degree from the University of Arizona Race Track Industry Program. His professional racing office experience includes helping open Bandera Downs during its 1990 inaugural meet as assistant racing secretary. Following that, from 1991 through 1998, Sherwood served as Director of Racing at Les Bois Park in Boise, Idaho.

He then spent nearly a decade in Texas pari-mutuel management, serving from November 1998 through May 2008 as Director of Pari-Mutuel Development and Manager of the Texas Hub simulcasting network for Texas Pari-Mutuel Management, the managing partner of Gulf Greyhound Park.

His resume also includes helping design and open the Gillespie County Fair Simulcast Facility, “The Race Barn,” where he served as racing secretary for their fair meets from 2000 to 2007.

From June 2008 through September 2020, Sherwood owned and operated Simulcast Services, a full-service simulcast contract and settlement operation—adding significant executive-level business and operational leadership to his racing office experience.

Notably, Sherwood’s professional connection to Werstler goes back decades. The two first met in 1989, when Sherwood completed an internship at Remington Park during its inaugural Quarter Horse meet—an early intersection that now comes full circle as Sherwood prepares to take over leadership of TQHA.

Sherwood will continue to serve as Director of Racing while also taking on the Executive Director role, providing stability and ensuring TQHA’s racing program remains consistent as the organization moves forward.

A Respected Transition
Werstler’s retirement marks the close of a long and steady chapter at TQHA—one defined by deep knowledge, industry credibility, and an unwavering commitment to the Texas Quarter Horse racing program.

With Sherwood stepping into leadership, TQHA gains a successor with extensive experience, practical racing office knowledge, and a career built across every level of the sport.

This transition represents both an appreciation of the past and a firm plan for the future—keeping the organization’s leadership in the hands of seasoned professionals who understand the industry from the ground up.

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