104 SIDELINES DECEMBER 2013
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
4 SIDELINES JUNE 2012
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
polo, and he was in awe of the power and strength of the players
and the level of excitement to the game. It motivated him to push
his own limits, aspiring to become a high goal player one day.
The launching pad for Brandon’s career occurred in Connecticut
in 1994 when he was exposed to top polo players and when he
impressed Peter Brant. The following winter, Brandon was invited
down to Wellington, Florida during his break from school. When
he arrived, Brandon was put into a practice with Peter. Afterward,
Peter approached Brandon and asked him to stay and play the
22 Goal at White Birch Farm. Unbeknownst to Brandon, the trip
had been arranged as a tryout. In February 1995, at the age of
17, Brandon Phillips was officially a professional polo player.
Brandon began his career traveling back and forth between
Florida and Canada. He spent the winters of his final two years
of high school in Florida playing polo and working with tutors
to complete his schoolwork, then returning to Toronto in his
downtime to attend class and visit friends and family. He played
22 Goal for one month before being hired for the 26. That year
Brandon played in the Gold Cup and then that summer in the
U.S. Open in New York, where he had once been so inspired.
His dream had become a reality.
After leaving White Birch Farm, he worked for Memo Gracida,
another polo player who helped give him his start. For almost
four years, Memo served as a mentor to Brandon as they
traveled and played polo together. Under Memo, Brandon
improved both his game and his confidence. One day when
Brandon was 4-goals, Memo suggested it was time to take his
career to the next level. Out of his 20 horses, Memo offered
Brandon six of his choice to be paid off as he could, allowing him
to go out on his own and advance as a player.
Since then Brandon’s career has flourished. Those six horses
have turned into 20, and he has never looked back. He has won
the USPA Silver Cup, the Gold Cup of the Americas, and the C.V.
Whitney Cup, as well as making it to the finals of the U.S. Open
once and the semi-finals twice. He continues to push himself
and hopes to one day win the U.S. Open, where he can hopefully
continue his dream and inspire future polo players just as he was
inspired.
Brandon in action on the polo field.
Photo by Alan Fabricant
With all of the success, Brandon continues to remember the
catalyst that changed the course of his life and maintains his
positive attitude along with his ambition to live each day to the
fullest. His journey has made him the person and the player that
he is today. He strives to be a role model on and off the field
by dedicating much of his time to philanthropy by supporting
charities such as the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, which has
made Brandon the Honorary Chair of its inaugural Polo for a
Purpose event on January 4th.
“I feel that my experiences give me a unique perspective and
chance to connect with and help others,” explained Brandon.
“Being able to tell my story and show that there is always a
chance for survival helps me remind those battling cancer that
they should continue to believe in their own futures.”
Brandon’s adolescent years were an emotional roller coaster that
thankfully had a happy ending. His strength and determination in
the face of peril is inspirational, and his story encourages people
to treasure each moment and fight for their dreams.
About the writer: Sarit Schneider is an account manager at Sirota Public Relations.
Originally from Georgia, she now lives in New York City with her boyfriend and her
dog, Stewie.
Brandon, left, and fellow Hot Horsemen Nic Roldan join Sidelines
TV producer Robert Jordan for an interview. You can watch a
Sidelines TV interview with Brandon on the Sidelines website.
Photo by Alan Fabricant
