FORHORSEPEOPLE • ABOUTHORSEPEOPLE
SIDELINESMAY 2014 29
Carlos enjoying a ride on one of his
favorites, Valars, thepolo-playing stallion
he competed and showed.
PhotobyAmi PoloPhotography
years.
“I can tell youhewas agreat poloplayer,
but everyone knows that. I can tell you he
was a great guy, but everyone knows that,
too,” said John Fulton, a bloodstock agent
and racehorse owner in Argentina who
was a close friend of Carlos for the past 10
years. Members of International Polo Club
(IPC) in PalmBeach, the two oftenworked
out together at the club and went to dinner
afterward with their families. “We had a lot
of fun times together,” John recalled. “He
was such a social guy, always very open
andentertaining.”
Underlying his personality was the fabric
Carlos was made of. “Prejudice never
entered into his way of thinking – whether
you were a groom or a patron. If you were
a good person, it was all the same to him,”
said John.
Born inMexicoCity intoa family that had
playedpolo for generations, Carlos learned
to play polo on foot, then on a bicycle. By
the time he was 10, he was competing
in tournaments, already showing his
uncanny skill and a deep connection with
horses. His finesse was appreciated by
polo fans and players from every walk of
life. Remembered as “the best polo player
ever”byhisstudent,PrinceWilliam,Carlos
wasQueenElizabeth II’s favorite player.
“Lots of players are great with a mallet,
but you can’t compare them to Carlos,”
said John. “Watching him play was like
watching a work of art being created right
in front of your eyes.” At Carlos’smemorial
ceremony at IPC, his brother Memo
Gracida (also a top player), observed that
when people talk of skillful players, Carlos
transcended that.
“Carlos was magic,” said Peter Rizzo,
CEOof theUnitedStatesPoloAssociation.
“I’dwatchhimplay and think, ‘I don’t know
how he does it.’” Peter, who knew Carlos
more than 30 years, counts him among
the top three polo players of all time. “He
CarlosGracida: 1960 – 2014
His finessewas appreciated by polo fans and players from everywalk
of life. Remembered as “the best polo player ever” by his student,
PrinceWilliam, CarloswasQueenElizabeth II’s favorite player.
CarlosGracida
Photo byAlanFabricant,
Carloswith his fiancée, Monica. The two
were planning tomarry inAugust 2014.
PhotobyAlexPacheco
Continued on page30
