NTRA Set to Announce Hiring of Marketing Executive

The National Thoroughbred Racing Association is expected to soon announce the hiring of Mike Schafer, a marketing executive with Procter & Gamble, as special assistant to the commissioner.

Schafer, who has an interest in horse racing, was on hand for the NTRA Annual Meeting and Marketing Summit Sept. 21-23 in Las Vegas, Nev. He said he would be officially on board with the NTRA Oct. 1.

Procter & Gamble is a 165-year-old consumer-products company. NTRA commissioner Tim Smith called Schafer a "world-class marketing talent," and said he would begin by working on "special assignments" that "hopefully would develop into something long-term."

The NTRA plans to issue an official release with more details in the near future. Officials said the Marketing Summit was a good opportunity for Schafer to meet industry participants.