52 SIDELINES AUGUST 2012
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
By Catherine Connor-Zachariadis
For most people in the polo world, the last name “Gracida” brings
to mind Memo, Carlos or Ruben Gracida, the frst family of polo.
Between them, they have won countless polo championships all
over the world, including the U.S. Open, the Queens Cup and the
Gold Cup. Well watch out ladies, Gracida version 2.0 is on the
scene! Julio, Carlos, Mariano and Weston Gracida have begun to
make names for themselves in the polo world with bright futures
ahead. In March, the four cousins played on a team together and
won the USPA Bronze Trophy (12 goal) tournament at Gulfstream
Polo Club in Wellington, Florida.
Gulfstream’s manager Marla Connor was thrilled to have the
four boys playing on one team at Gulfstream. “I have known the
Gracida family for years and watched the boys grow up. To see
them all play on a team and win feels like I was watching a piece
of polo history.”
The idea to put an all-Gracida team together dawned on the
young men when they realized they had no jobs for the upcoming
month. “I knew we were fnally at an age where we could all play
together and thought that the Bronze Cup was a great opportunity
to take a shot at the four of us doing that,” Weston said. Their idea
proved positive during an impressive display of strategy, style and
heart when the family-made team clinched the win in the fnals.
So what was it like growing up as the sons of stars? “We come
from a family of polo in which my frst memories of family gatherings
involved watching polo tapes of Memo and Carlos playing in high
goal polo,” Weston said. “As kids we were entrenched in polo and
the dynamics of the game. We learned the rules, strategies and
ways to win.”
When watching the second generation of Gracidas play, it’s
e
Polo
Gracida 2.0 – Keeping it in the Family
easy to see that they come from the same great foundation. They
have similar traits, from their classical and powerful swings to their
quality polo pony string. “We have been taught to play the same
way ever since we could play practices,” Julio said.
With brilliance also comes challenges. “The fact that the four of
us hadn’t played together proved to be diffcult, yet we improved
each game and that was very inspiring. It has been over 60 years
since four Gracidas played together so to play together and win
was making history and has made me very proud of my heritage
and ability as a polo player,” Weston
explained.
Outside of polo, the rising stars stay
busy. “I enjoy playing a lot of tennis; I
play almost every day. I also collect and
read National Geographic magazines,”
Carlos said. Weston has an especially
long list of hobbies. “I currently hold a
captain’s license and pilot’s license. I
studied biology and chemistry in college,
and I love to surf and dive. Anything
outdoors pretty much calls my interest,
but mostly polo is on the top of that list!”
All the cousins have one hobby in
common: a love of riding green horses
and producing top horses. “I like
helping my father with his green horse
operation, learning as much as I can on
how he produces so many top horses
so consistently,” Carlos said. Julio and
Weston both had exciting green horse
moments in the USPA Bronze Trophy
fnals. Julio’s mare, Lady Sunny, by Cup
Challenge, was named Best Playing
Pony of the fnals. “She was one of the
frst mares my father and I bought off the
track in Argentina. She is seven years
old and is my father, Memo’s, favorite
mare that we have now.”
Photos by John Zachariadis
Las Espuelas wins the Finals of the USPA Bronze Trophy at Gulfstream Polo Club. From
Left to Right: Catherine Zachariadis (presenting), Weston Gracida, Carlitos Gracida, Tony
Depaula (Sponsor), Mariano Gracida and Julio Gracida.
Julio Gracida and his mare Lady Sunny, by Challenge Cup, was
named Best Playing Pony in the Finals of the USPA Bronze
Trophy.