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P O N Y L I N E S
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The first time I saw Mr Polo was in 1980 at Sunland Park in El Paso,Texas visiting my
uncle Chino who had told me he had a racehorse for polo. Mr Polo had the presence,
the eye and temperament of a champion. He played his first US Open in 1981 at four
years old and, a year later, he became my best horse and helped me achieve my 10-goal
handicap. I played him two chukkas in the 82 Open, and he continued to play in 1983,
84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89 and 1990, helping me to win seven US Opens, where I played him in
two chukkas in almost every one. In 1991, we made the decision to retire Mr Polo, and he
lived until 2015 when he was 38 years old. In February 2019 he was inducted into the
Museum of Polo Hall of Fame. By Memo Gracida (pictured above with Mr Polo in 1985).
P O N Y ’ S N A M E : M R P O L O
S E X : G E L D I N G
O R I G I N : A M E R I C A N
L O V E O F M Y L I F E
When and how did you start playing polo?
My dad brought me into the sport. When
I was about 8 years old, I started playing
in Wellington. I was in the Polo Training
Foundation program. It’s a great way for
a kid to learn about polo. I competed in my
first high-goal tournament when I was 14.
I played for Zacara with Facundo Pieres. It
taught me discipline, commitment and how
to work hard and be a pro.
What makes polo special for you?
It’s not just one thing. I love the tradition,
the sport, the horses – everything together.
And everyone in my family played.
How do you feel about your 2019
Florida season?
It was great playing for Pilot! Winning The
Gauntlet of Polo™ series was a dream come
true, especially because in my home town.
Before that, what was your most memorable
polo game?
When I was 14, playing with Facundo
[Pieres], we beat Adolfo Cambiaso and
went into the semis in Sotogrande.
What are you doing this summer?
On 1 May I go from Florida to Sotogrande,
Spain, to play in the medium-goal (14).
I love playing there. Sotogrande is beautiful.
S A D D L E U P W I T H . . .
M A T I A S G O N Z A L E Z
C O U N T R Y : U N I T E D S T A T E S
H A N D I C A P : 3 ( U S )
A G E : 2 0
A G E N T
E X T R A O R D I N A I R E
Willy Von Raab, a pillar of the Virginia
Polo Community, sadly passed away
in February at the age of 77 after a brief
illness. His love affair with polo started
as an undergraduate at Yale and
continued throughout law school
at the University of Virginia. After
practicing law, he served as the
US Customs Commissioner in the
Regan and Bush administrations.
He subsequently went on to form
the Oldford Polo Club, which has
been active for several decades.
The club will continue its play under
the guidance of his son Nicholas Von Raab,
who is an able player in his own right.
Willy’s keen wit and dry sense of humour
will be sorely missed.
