66 SIDELINES APRIL 2013
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
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Making A Difference
By Lauren R. Giannini
J
ohn Walsh is best known for hosting the super-popular
crime show, America’s Most Wanted, which brought 39
criminals to justice after it moved from Fox to Lifetime in
December 2011 – helping to round up more than 1,100 felons
since its debut in 1988. A new project has the dedicated crime
fghter working on a pilot for a potential series about really old
unsolved cases called “John Walsh Investigates.”
John works closely with the FBI and US Marshalls in the course
of a case: a matter of win-win for everyone on the side of justice –
not so good for the criminals. “The pilot involves shooting in three
different places around the country on tough, really cold cases
– we’re still working hard, trying to catch these guys,” said John,
who has a personal stake in serving justice.
In 1981 John and Revé’s son Adam, six, was abducted and
murdered. In the tragic aftermath, galvanized by grief, they turned
to activism. Their efforts resulted in the creation of the non-proft
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children in 1984 after
then President Reagan signed the Missing Children’s Assistance
Act. Honoring Adam’s memory fred their zeal to fght crime via
America’s Most Wanted, to further victim advocacy, and to get
laws passed to protect children from predators and sex offenders.
Over the years horses became an integral part of the Walsh
family’s leisure activities, and they often serve far greater purposes
than mere pleasure and sport. “My wife Revé is a frst class rider
and a world class foxhunter,” said John. “She’s a terrifc supporter
of foxhunting. She brought Noel Ryan from Virginia where he
was huntsman to Palm Beach Hounds and he has taken that
John Walsh Gives Back
hunt way uptown. Our son Hayden, 18, is a pretty darn good polo
player. Cornell University is trying to recruit him. He’s looking at
University of Virginia and Stanford where they have good outdoor
polo programs. It’s a real joy to play polo with your son.”
John has a real passion for polo: it’s fun and exciting, but he
can also utilize his celebrity status to help raise funds for various
charitable causes. “I’m playing polo all the time – Gulfstream,
Vero Beach, Palm Beach – and a number of the games are charity
matches,” admitted John when he spoke to Sidelines in February.
“I believe in giving back.”
On February 15 John emceed the 24th annual National Polo
Museum&Hall of Fame’s Awards Gala inWellington, Florida which
honored Tim Gannon, the co-founder of Outback Steakhouse and
a positive presence in the polo world, with a special award. “I’ve
hosted the awards gala a number of times – the Polo Museum
& Hall of Fame is a non-proft run by a great group of people,”
John Walsh, at the
microphone during the
awards presentation
after the Van Metre
Polo Cup at Great
Meadow, talking about
Capital Caring and the
important work it does:
“I believe in giving
back.”
All photos by Lauren R. Giannini, unless noted
John Walsh pursues the ball
close to the goal posts during
a charity match