SIGN IN YOUR ACCOUNT TO HAVE ACCESS TO DIFFERENT FEATURES

FORGOT YOUR PASSWORD?

FORGOT YOUR DETAILS?

AAH, WAIT, I REMEMBER NOW!

Sidelines MagazineSidelines Magazine

  • LOGIN
  • Home
  • Current Issue
  • Subscriptions
    • Flipbook
    • Subscribe Options
    • Order Sidelines Caps
    • Order Individual & Back Issues
  • Podcast
  • Marketplace
    • Business Ads
    • Directories
      • Barns, Farms, Trainers & Clubs
      • Equestrian Services
      • Real Estate
      • Stallions
      • Tack & Feed Stores
    • Classifieds
    • Horse Trailers for Sale
  • Advertise
  • Blogs
    • Show World
    • What’s Happenin’
  • Partners
  • Contacts
    • Contacts
    • Employment
3
Friday, July 28 2017 / Published in Sidelines Feature

Carlitos Gracida Takes the Gracida Legacy into the Future of Polo

Carlitos Gracida
Photo by Philippa Davin

By GT Courbette

Carlitos Gracida has taken on the expectations of his family’s name, stepping forward into the future of polo and life. His friends call him Carlitos, the eldest son of the late Carlos Gracida and mother Carmen. He has taken his place in manhood, now 26 years old, the head of his Gracida family, taking the reins from his father, leading his brother and little sister into the future.

“I am ‘little Carlos’ but I was the one who nicknamed my brother, Mariano,” he says. Carlitos fondly recalls how his younger brother, now 24, had too big a name to pronounce. Carlitos was unable to say Mariano when he was 2 but could utter “Nano!” And the name stuck. Brothers Carlitos and Nano Gracida are now 4-goals.

Carlitos on the polo field
Photo by Sheryel Aschfort, The Polo Paparazzi

Field side, they were there at their father’s flank, riding from birth, living among the polo community at Palm Beach Polo in Wellington, Florida. Even though they thought they would have their father’s leading hand, his talent and gifts around them always, now they’re building their own experiences, keeping their father’s thoughts, ideas, values and designs between the future of their own steps and the history of the Gracida legacy.

The late Carlos Gracida, Carlitos’ father, was a Mexican-born polo great, reaching a 10-goal handicap in 1985 and spanning 15 years. He shared his talent and skills with the polo community while acting as a teacher and mentor, bringing opportunities to other polo players until his sudden death on a polo field in 2014. Winning more tournaments in the history of the game, he won the Player of the Year five times, the U.S. Open nine times and the British Open 10 times. He was a humble man, kind and generous. He was a great horseman and passionate about his horses. He had a flair for life and family but now this crown of glory is placed on the eldest son, on the shoulders of little Carlos.

His Father’s Legacy

With his father’s legacy and roots ever present, Carlitos is focusing on his family’s future. “The lifestyle has to revolve around what we do,” he said. “Our main focus is the horses and being good horsemen. If we have the horses going well, if we keep our composure on and off the field, act like gentlemen, keep healthy, progress forward, everything will follow. My father was an ultimate professional and an excellent horseman. He was professional in everything he did, taking his job seriously.”

Carlitos being interviewed by Chukker TV
Photo by Sandy Pallot Klein

Carlitos believes being a horseman as opposed to being a polo player is what’s important. He believes his upbringing and the knowledge his father shared with his brother and him has built a solid foundation. “As a horseman, you can diversify if you have the tools, the knowledge and the abilities. This allows a professional the ability to play different kinds of horses, bringing them along in their training, as well as making polo horses for sale.”

Carlitos’ father and uncle, Memo Gracida, along with Gonzalo Pieres, played at a time when organizing began to change the style of the professional polo player. The sport was becoming more competitive, and when Prince Charles brought polo to the forefront of society in the 1980s, the normally private setting began to take on celebrity.

Horses are ingrained in Carlitos and the lifestyle a part of who he is. His foundation dates back to the Gracida heritage of his polo-playing great-grandfather, grandfather and the champion that was his father.

Gracida Wine

“Right now we are focusing on our father’s brand,” Carlitos said. “My father had begun to build a Gracida wine that exemplifies the lifestyle of polo. The lifestyle portrays elegance and substance, but there is more to polo. In my father’s time, there was a sense of community. When you finished a game, everyone was invited back for an Asado [barbecue].

The Gracida brand wine and legacy continues through Carlitos and Nano.
Photo by Silvitina Canal

“We want to bring back the key that unlocks the door to polo,” Carlitos continued. “Access to polo is as easy as taking a drink of our wine. We think we can portray the lifestyle of polo through our wine. My father opened the door to sponsors and patrons who began to relish that they were part of this polo community. This is what is missing today. There are teams now who have lost their sense of community as it is now about competition and winning — much less about community, horses, playing and having fun. We want to reach out to a new audience to ring a bell that polo is a welcoming sport.”

Carlitos is now the head of the Gracida family.
Photo by Philippa Davin

Carlitos doesn’t believe life is about things, but instead about “being happy and having the right values. It’s about the horses and the people — a community.” The movement of the horses on the field gives way to the scenic Sunday game and the prize of a tournament, but according to Carlitos, polo is so much more. Carlitos wants to continue his father’s vision — the collaboration of a brand to make his family’s name synonymous with the image of polo while at the same time giving others a glance into the sport that has endured in his family for four generations. Polo is a horse sport Carlitos is happy to promote.

 

 

Double D Trailers Info

Share this page:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
Tagged under: carlitos gracida, gracida wine, polo

What you can read next

Hailey Royce: Moving Up Goal by Big Goal
Eventing With Boyd Martin
Laura Graves & Verdades Dancing In Harmony

Download Sidelines Digital now from your favorite app store!

Sidelines Magazine - Apple store   Sidelines Magazine - Google Play store   Sidelines Magazine - Amazon store
Update iOS app. Re-download Google Play and Amazon app.

Follow on Instagram!

sidelines_magazine

Sidelines Magazine
Jessica West always rode any horse that was availa Jessica West always rode any horse that was available to her throughout her Junior career, so she knew she had an advantage when she decided she wanted to ride on an NCAA team in college. Now a senior at @@auburnu and majoring in psychology, Jessica has enjoyed everything about the equestrian team and is ready to move on to her next adventure. 

Read more about Jessica at the link in our bio!

#ncea #ncaa #equestrian #collegiateequestrian #huntseatequitation #hunterjumper #equestrianlife #collegelife #showjumper #hunterhorse #horseshow #sidelinesmagazine
In the unique and challenging sport of combined dr In the unique and challenging sport of combined driving, Jacob Arnold has proven himself to be a bona fide star. It’s been said that success develops from a recipe based on hard work, perseverance, learning and sacrifice, paired with a love of what one is doing. Since the time he was a boy, Jacob has had the right combination of all of those ingredients, which have culminated in a meteoric rise to stardom.

Beginning his career as a Junior, Jacob earned the coveted @usequestrian Junior Equestrian of the Year award in 2011. Since then, he has taken the combined driving world by storm, competing successfully in four @fei_global World Championships. He also won the USEF Advanced Pair Horse National Championship in 2020 and 2021, among other victories—all before the age of 28, in a sport that has historically been dominated by older drivers. Last September, he placed 12th—the highest of any American driver—at the 2021 FEI Driving World Championship for Pairs in a field of over 100 top-level drivers.

Read more about @jacobarnoldcombineddriving at the link in our bio!

@alex.banks.photography #combineddriving #drivendressage #dressage #driving #carriage #horsedriving #equestrianstyle #equestrianlife #horselover #drivinghorse #carriagehorse #showhorse #sidelinesmagazine
@rolex Testimonee Daniel Deusser has claimed the f @rolex Testimonee Daniel Deusser has claimed the first equestrian Major of 2022, winning the prestigious Rolex Grand Prix at The Dutch Masters. In doing so he also claimed an additional bonus for non-consecutive Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping wins, following his victory at CHIO Aachen last year. The German champion’s outstanding performance riding his trusted partner Scuderia 1918 Tobago Z once again makes him the live contender for the coveted Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping.

Catch up on all the action and watch the free highlights video on the Sidelines Show World blog (link in bio!)

#showjumping #rolex #grandslam #rolexgrandslam #showjumper #dutch #netherlands #dutchwarmbloods #equestrianlife #hunterhorse #hunterjumper #equestrianstyle #showhorses #showjumpersofinstagram #jumpinghorse #grandprixjumer #grandprixhorse #sidelinesmagazine
Dog and Horse friendly 3 bedroom 2 bath on 1.25 ac Dog and Horse friendly 3 bedroom 2 bath on 1.25 acres in Jupiter Farms, Florida.

Jupiter Farms is an equestrian community with a trail system and a sand riding arena at the park. Charming home features vaulted ceilings, custom trim, custom lighting in master bedroom that changes color with a remote. Granite countertops in kitchen and laundry room. New 2022 stackable washer/dryer. Privacy fenced backyard with beautiful tall pines for shade, many palm trees also on property.

Secure fenced  25’ x 25’ pen with wood fencing , for a horse, dogs or a garden.  Wonderful property in desirable Jupiter Farms. 45 minutes to Wellington, 25 minutes to Jupiter Dog Beach. Perfect oasis for dog and horse lovers, close to everything in South Florida. MLS# 10778333, Agents welcome.

$655,000
Contact 561-246-9317
Load More... Follow on Instagram

From Our Classifieds Ads

  • A Wynning Advantage
    Take the Leap! Take your equestrian event or business to the next level. Lifestyle Marketing • Public Relations • Sponsorship Sales • Event Activation Sponsorship • Marketing • Promotion Event Management • Ananlytics Press/Email Campaigns • Editorial Photography • Social Media • Website Design Ad Copy • Onsite and Remote Activation Lisa Davis Engel • awynningadvantage@yahoo.com • 908-310-6248

    [Read more]

  • Eastern Hay
    EST. 1923 YOUR BEST HAY “Farming is in our blood. Providing great service and products to our customers has been passed on down thru generations of my family.” - Chris Johnson, Owner EasternHay.com | 845-855-3291 | Pawling, NY PROUD SPONSOR OF MONMOUTH AT THE TEAM

    [Read more]

Sidelines Articles by Email

Subscribe to Sidelines Magazine Articles by Email

RSS Sidelines Blogs: What’s Happenin’

  • A Paris Horse Adventure: Saut Hermes 2022
  • Better Business with Malvern Bank: Michael Meller’s Secrets to Success
  • Third Annual Painted Ponies Art Walk takes over Southern Pines, NC!

RSS Sidelines Blogs: Show World

  • Jung Ends as He Began — On Top — at the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS EQUESTRIAN™
  • ROLEX TESTIMONEE DANIEL DEUSSER WINS ROLEX GRAND PRIX AT 2022 DUTCH MASTERS
  • STABLE VIEW IN AIKEN POSTPONING ‘A’ RATED $400,000 H/J CHALLENGE SERIES DUE TO RESTRICTIVE MILEAGE RULE

Category

Recent Posts

  • Hope Cooper: Dressage and Education Run in the Family

    By Ruby Tevis Portraits by Melissa Fuller Hope ...
  • Bailey Robinson: Ponies on Her Mind

    By Britney Grover Portraits by Kristie Scholten...
  • The Impact of Thoughts

    By Margie Sugarman I fell off at a big show I q...
  • Believing in the Horse Nobody Believed In: Cooley Quicksilver

    By Liz Halliday-Sharp I have had many young hor...
  • Unbridled With Steve Stephens

    By Britney Grover Steve Stephens knows a good j...

Copyright © 1987 - 2021 Sidelines Magazine
Privacy Policy · Returns & Refunds Policy · Hosting by Lucian Web Service
· Login

TOP
Get the Sidelines Scoop — your weekly look behind the scenes.Sign me up!