96 SIDELINESMAY 2014
FORHORSEPEOPLE • ABOUTHORSEPEOPLE
Continuedon page 98
The polo community enjoyed an exciting day in
Februaryasacrowdof350peoplecheered forsixnew
people and horses who were inducted into the Hall
of Fame— all while celebrating the 25th anniversary
of the induction celebration. Melissa Ganzi, well
known for her involvement and enthusiasm in the
polo community, presented the awards.
Sidelines’
is
proud of all of the athletes — two-legged and four-
legged — who have achieved so much. In honor of
these inductees, please enjoy these biographies and
accompanyingphotographs.
Photos byMuseum of Polo, unless notedotherwise
PETERPERKINS
–PosthumousHall of
Fame, Players (1918 - 1996)
Born in 1918 in Long Island, NewYork, Peter Perkins
grew up inCalifornia and learned to play polo fromhis
father. Interrupted byWorld II, duringwhichhewas a
POW for three years, Perkins resumed his polo career
and achievedhis high rating of 8-goals in 1946. During
his stellar career, Peter won theU.S. Open in1948 and
1951 and theMontyWaterbury in1948 and 1951. He
played on thewinningWest team in the 1947 and 1951
East-West Series, playedon thewinningU.S. team
in the 1946CamachoCup, and in 1949 represented
MeadowBrook inArgentina and took second place in
theWorldChampionshipat Palermoplaying for America.
Internationally, hewon theGoldCup inDeauville, the
Midhurst Town andRoyalWindsor Cups inEngland. He
had also been thePresident of theMeadowBrookClub.
According toHall of Famer BennieGutierrez, “Peter
Perkins had themost perfect form hitting apolo ball that
I ever saw… and from any angle!”
e
Polo
Museum of Polo & Hall Of Fame
Honors Inductees
ADAMSNOW
–
LivingHall of Fame, Players
Growingupnear Boston, Massachusetts, Adam playedpolo
on the fields at Myopia. Beginning his polo tutelage at age10,
he joined the elite group of playerswith 10-goal handicaps in
2002 at age 38. Adam played on thewinningAmerican team in
theWestchester Cup in 1992, won threeSilver Cups, threeEast
Coast Opens, theGoldCup, theMontyWaterbury, thePacific
Coast Open, theTexasOpen and theAmericaCup twice. But
the paramount point in his career couldeasily be hiswins of
theU.S. OpenChampionship in 2002and 2006, for whichhe
was awarded theMVPof theU.S. Open in 2002. Adam’s great
mare, Pumba, took theBest PlayingPony (BPP) honors that
same year and hismareAmywasBPP of theOpenwhenhe
won in 2006. Adam has also playedaround theworld, winning
theMelbourne andMortonCups inAustralia; the JackGannon,
CoochBehar andAshleyCups inEngland and inArgentina, the
“Mundialito.” Twice namedPlayer of theYear— in 1998and
2002— theever-understatedAdam says he credits his success
toperseverance and hardwork.
Photo byShelleyHeatley
