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 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
0
Sunday, April 13 2014 / Published in Weekly Feature

Godspeed to the Great Carlos Gracida

Carlos and his sons, Mariano, left, and Carlos, Jr., who are both  professional polo players. Photo by Alex Pacheco

Carlos and his sons, Mariano, left, and Carlos, Jr., who are both professional polo players.
Photo by Alex Pacheco

By Darlene Ricker

What kind of polo superstar gives one of his best-trained horses to another player who can’t afford to buy a safe mount? Treats a beginner with the same respect he does a student from the British royal family? Stops after a match to chat with a stranger who cheered him on from the sidelines?

The kind of guy named Carlos Gracida.

Unfortunately there was only one of his kind, and his recent death has left a hole in the heart of the sport. The polo world – indeed, anyone who knew Carlos – recognized him as one of the greatest polo players, and finest human beings, of all time. The legendary player died February 26, 2014 after a tragic accident in which his horse fell on him during play at Everglades Polo Club in Wellington, Florida.

It’s difficult to quantify what the loss of an international icon like Carlos Gracida means. Among the elite handful of 10-goal players in the world, he won more national and international titles than most people can count. Those who knew Carlos personally, however, have no lack of words to describe the man who brought so much to the world in his 53 years.

 

Carlos Gracida Photo by Alan Fabricant, www.alfabphoto.com

Carlos Gracida
Photo by Alan Fabricant, www.alfabphoto.com

“I can tell you he was a great polo player, 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 Palm Beach, the two often worked 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 and entertaining.”

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 in Mexico City into a family that had played polo 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” by his student, Prince William, Carlos was Queen Elizabeth II’s favorite player.

When Carlos was inducted into the Museum of Polo and Hall of Fame, the museum set up a display of his trophies in the marquee – a display that filled an entire wall. Photo by Alex Pacheco

When Carlos was inducted into the Museum of Polo and Hall of Fame, the museum set up a display of his trophies in the marquee – a display that filled an entire wall.
Photo by Alex Pacheco

“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’s memorial 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, CEO of the United States Polo Association. “I’d watch him play 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 could play anywhere, with anyone,” he said. “He was extremely approachable, always had a smile on his face. He always had time for you, whoever you were.”

For Sunny Hale, the most famous female polo player in the world and the first woman to ride on a winning team in the U.S. Open Polo Championship, the word that epitomizes Carlos is inspiration. “I believe inspiration is one of the greatest gifts anyone can give and receive,” Sunny said. “Inspiration for me comes from great people in history, no matter what they achieved…it’s the exceptional ones that take a stance to be what they are and to give themselves to what drives them no matter what their talent. This is what changes the way we think and the way we live our lives.

 

Carlos, right, and his brother Memo Gracida. Photo by Alex Pacheco

Carlos, right, and his brother Memo Gracida.
Photo by Alex Pacheco

“What inspired me was something I could feel from my earliest childhood memories.” Sunny added,“ – this burning desire and dream that I shared with no one. I wanted to play polo with the best polo players in the world, with no special circumstances, but because they asked me to be there. Carlos Gracida gave me one of my first invitations to live my dream in 26-goal polo and something to aspire to in the way he played. I’m truly thankful for these gifts he gave to me without even knowing it.”

Samantha Charles, polo player and publisher of Sidelines Magazine, received a gift from Carlos that took her breath away. “One day I was playing practice chukkers at Ruben Gracida’s [Carlos’ cousin], and Carlos saw me getting bucked off of a really pretty little black mare,” she recalled. “He rode over and asked me why I was riding such a horse. I didn’t want to say it was because it was all I could afford, so I gave him some lame excuse about the horse being in training.

“A couple days later his secretary called me and asked when I could pick up Monica. I was shocked to find out that he had given me one of his top ponies who could no longer play high-goal. She looked exactly like the one that had bucked me off, except this mare was awesome to play. Carlos asked nothing in return – that’s how kind he was.”

Brandon Phillips, left, Carlos and Luis Escabar at a polo luncheon at the beginning of the 2013 polo season. Photo by Alan Fabricant, www.alfabphoto.com

Brandon Phillips, left, Carlos and Luis Escabar at a polo luncheon at the beginning of the 2013 polo season.
Photo by Alan Fabricant, www.alfabphoto.com

 

If there can be any consolation in the loss of such a man, it comes in Sunny’s words at a memorial service: “I can only say one thing, and that is that he passed from this world doing what he truly loved.”

Godspeed to one of a kind.

 

Carlos enjoying a ride on one of his favorites, Valars, the polo-playing stallion he competed and showed. Photo by Ami Polo Photography

Carlos enjoying a ride on one of his favorites, Valars, the polo-playing stallion he competed and showed.
Photo by Ami Polo Photography

 

About the writer: Darlene Ricker, CEO and Editorial Director of Equestrian Authors, LLC (equestrianauthors.com), covered polo for many years as a staff writer for the Boston Globe and the Los Angeles Times. She met Carlos Gracida on one of her early assignments and remembers him as “the person who turned me on to polo and taught me what having passion – and compassion – for horses and humanity is all about.”

 

The photo Carlos chose to put on his plaque for his induction into the Museum of Polo and Hall of Fame. Photo courtesy of the Museum of Polo

The photo Carlos chose to put on his plaque for his induction into the Museum of Polo and Hall of Fame.
Photo courtesy of the Museum of Polo

Carlos, with John Walsh, was inducted into the Museum of Polo and Hall of Fame in 2012.  Photo by Alex Pacheco

Carlos, with John Walsh, was inducted into the Museum of Polo and Hall of Fame in 2012.
Photo by Alex Pacheco

Carlos’ son, Mariano, leads his dad’s horse during a touching memorial ceremony at the International Polo Club, in Wellington, Florida. Photo by LILA PHOTO

Carlos’ son, Mariano, leads his dad’s horse during a touching memorial ceremony at the International Polo Club, in Wellington, Florida.
Photo by LILA PHOTO

Carlos with his fiancée, Monica. The two were planning to marry in August 2014. Photo by Alex Pacheco

Carlos with his fiancée, Monica. The two were planning to marry in August 2014.
Photo by Alex Pacheco

 

 

 

 

Double D Trailers Info

Tagged under: Alan Fabricant, Alex Pacheco, Ami Polo Photography, Brandon Phillips, carlos gracida, CEO of the United States Polo Association, Darlene Ricker, Everglades Polo Club, florida, horse-magazine, horses, hunters, international polo club, John Fulton, John Walsh, Jr., jumpers, LILA PHOTO, Luis Escabar, Mariano Gracida, Memo Gracida, Museum of Polo and Hall of Fame, Peter Rizzo, polo, polo magazine, polo player, polo ponies, ponies, Prince William, Queen Elizabeth II, samantha charles, sidelines-magazine, sunny hale, U.S. Open Polo Championship, wellington

What you can read next

Grady Lyman and her California Pony Power
Entrepreneurship for a Bigger Goal: Kelly Artz & Entrigue Consulting
Missy Clark: The Value of Equitation In Equestrian Education

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
Annette Longenecker wasn’t just born into horses Annette Longenecker wasn’t just born into horses—in a way, she was born into her career. She grew up in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, where her parents ran a farm. Her mother taught, and her father had a jump business and then created one of the first horse show software programs: Ryegate Show Services, Inc.

Riding all her life, Annette spent many years as a groom and loved it, but knew it wasn’t what she wanted to do as a career. After she finished college, Annette’s father recruited her to help process entries at Ryegate. Since her father, Lloyd Longenecker, founded it in 1981, Ryegate has provided show management and office staff for some of the largest shows in the country. Now, Annette has taken over from her father and directed the company as it focuses on managing memberships and rankings for organizations such as the North American League, WIHS Championships and Equitation, Rolex/USEF Computer Ranking and National Medal Series (THIS NCM and Ariat NAM). Ryegate also provides scoring software for use with video walls, and production teams for hunter and jumper shows.

“Besides running Ryegate Show Services and its various organizations, I can be found in the show office, running a scoreboard or judging jumpers at most shows,” Annette said. “I love getting to wear a few different hats at the show.”

When she’s not busy at a show, Annette lives in Annville, Pennsylvania, with her “fur-baby,” Maggie Mae, and enjoys spending time with her many godchildren. Though she doesn’t currently own any horses, Annette rides when she can at Rolling Acres Farm with Patty Foster, Ashley Foster-Worthington and Mary Lisa Leffler.

Read this month unbridled with Annette Longenecker by clicking the link in our bio. Never miss a story by subscribing to Sidelines Magazine! 🦄
📸Photo by Sheryl Sutherby

#horse #horses #horsesofinstagram #equestrian #horseriding #equine #pony #pferd #equestrianlife #horselove #dressage #horselover #instahorse #love #cheval #showjumping #horselife #photography #nature #pferde #horseofinstagram #caballo #riding #horsebackriding #pferdeliebe #caballos #horsepower #horsephotography #instagram #Sidelinesmagazine
A column from Liz Halliday-Sharp herself The spor A column from Liz Halliday-Sharp herself 
The sport of eventing is a demanding and mentally challenging discipline that requires a combination of physical and mental fortitude from both the rider and horse. While having a coach can be incredibly beneficial, self-coaching can also play a crucial role in a rider’s success.

I think that given the opportunity, most riders would like to be coached every day. The reality of life in the horse world, however, is that the majority of us need to absorb as much from the lessons we have on a limited basis and then practice those skills at home to improve.

When I am riding, I try to have a plan for the horses each day and focus on what I’m looking to achieve. It’s important to be aware of the steady improvements rather than trying to solve everything all at once. This is especially important when teaching horses new movements or exercises that they might struggle with, and we need to give them time to learn and understand what we are asking for.

I have a couple of quotes that I use regularly when I’m teaching, and these are mottos that I hold myself to in my daily work as well.

The first is, “If you do what you have always done, you will get what you have always gotten.” This is a quote that was said to me many years ago when I was still motor racing and I keep it in the back of my mind each day. It’s easy to get stuck doing the same thing every day with your horse and bad habits are hard to break, from both riders and horses!

This leads me to my next quote, which is, “If what you are doing isn’t working, try something else.” It really is as simple as that! Many riders I see keep asking a horse to do something the same way over and over with an ongoing negative response and they wonder why things don’t get better. In these circumstances, I recommend that the rider change something, even if it’s wrong.

Read the full article by clicking the link in our bio! Don’t forget to keep your eye out for our April subscription!
📸Photo by Alex Banks Photography
The✨April issue✨ of Sidelines Magazine is here The✨April issue✨ of Sidelines Magazine is here and we are so excited to feature three-day eventer Liz Halliday on the cover! Big thanks to photographer Melissa Fuller for the beautiful photo of Liz and Cooley Nutcracker- Liz Halliday-Sharp - HS Eventing. Liz and her horses have taken the eventing world by storm - and find out how Liz is at the top of the sport as a female eventer! As the horse world gears up for the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event 2023, it's the perfect time to enjoy our eventing issue!! We also feature eventer and woman entrepreneur Frankie Thieriot Stutes, who is not only an eventer, but also runs Athletux and FRANKIE CAMERON handbags and accessories. And don't miss our eventing story on Robert "Bobby" Costello, who will be leading the US Eventing team to the 2024 Paris Olympics- and US Equestrian has named Bobby the eventing technical advisor/chef d'equipe!! Liz, Frankie and Bobby all have GREAT stories - don't miss any of them and don't forget to get your tickets for the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day event! We are also excited to introduce you to hunter-jumper rider Casey Lorusso Smith, who is not only a talented rider but also a psychotherapist and incorporates horses into her career. If you are up for adventure, then read the story on dressage rider Priscilla Baldwin who certainly doesn't let any grass grow under her feet! We also head to the west coast to catch up with hunter-jumper trainer Jim Hagman of Elvenstar Farm, we feature beautiful art by equestrian artist Tammy Tappan, and we get to know Miranda Jones and her family. Miranda is not only an attorney who spends a lot of time in the courthouse, but she's a rider and spends lots of time riding, and is joined by her daughters also! We are excited to feature Stephanie Lightner in our Unbridled column, and don't miss our columnists George Williams, Robert R.L. Jacobs and Margie Sugarman! It's a great issue - and you can read it online, but don't forget to go to the website and order a subscription and get every issue delivered to your mailbox!! Enjoy this issue and enjoy the ride: Link in bio!!
It's finally Spring🌷🌻☀️! Get your barn s It's finally Spring🌷🌻☀️! Get your barn set up with a Pyranha SprayMaster Misting System. 
✅Provides whole barn insect control! 
✅Easy to install with basic tools!
✅Electric pump & programmable automatic timer!

Get yours today!
@pyranhalife

#pyranhalife #madeintheusa #pyranha #equestrian #horselife #horselifestyle #barncare
Load More... Follow on Instagram

From Our Classifieds Ads

  • EASTERN HAY
    Your Best Hay 845-855-3291 www.easternhay.com New York

    [Read more]

  • PROGRESSIVE SHOW JUMPING, INC.
    803-649-3505/3677 fax psjcathy@gmail.com www.psjshows.com

    [Read more]

Sidelines Articles by Email

Subscribe to Sidelines Magazine Articles by Email

RSS Sidelines Blogs: What’s Happenin’

  • Get More for Your Money with an Adjustable-Rate Mortgage
  • Longines Global Champions Tour of New York Returns to Governors Island
  • A Paris Horse Adventure: Saut Hermes 2022

RSS Sidelines Blogs: Show World

  • Will Coleman Retains Yanmar America CCI4*-S Lead in Dramatic Show Jumping at Setters’ Run Farm Carolina International
  • First edition of the World Sport Horse Sales was a hit with $410.000 for the most expensive horse
  • Liz Halliday-Sharp Takes Third Victory in $50,000 Grand-Prix Eventing Festival at Bruce’s Field

Category

Recent Posts

  • April 2023 – Table of Contents

    Subscribe for just $9.95 or Order Individual Is...
  • Building a Bond With a New Horse

    By Margie Sugarman I just bought a new horse. I...
  • Developing Healthy Relationships With Your Barnmates

    By Rob Jacobs The purpose of this month’s colum...
  • The Value of Self-Coaching

    By Liz Halliday-Sharp The sport of eventing is ...
  • Unbridled With Annette Longenecker

    By Britney Grover  Annette Longenecker wasn’t 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!