FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 12-09-2009
Contact: Brenda Lynn
Museum of Polo and Hall of Fame
(561) 969-3210;
Website:
POLO MUSEUM’S HALL OF FAME ANNOUNCES INDUCTEES FOR 2010
On Friday, February 12th, 2010 the Museum of Polo will welcome into its polo Hall of Fame living legend of polo Julian Hipwood, posthumous inductee Lewis Lacey, posthumous Iglehart Award Winner for outstanding lifetime contributions to the sport of polo “Big Joe” Muldoon, living Iglehart award winner Dave Rizzo and Horses to Remember, Red Ace and Khaki. The 21st Annual Hall of Fame Awards Gala will be held at the Museum of Polo and Hall of Fame in Lake Worth, Florida. The festivities for the induction gala will begin at 6:30 p.m. with a Cocktail and Champagne Reception and Silent Auction. A seated dinner follows, capped off by the awards presentation and dancing afterward. The Master of Ceremonies for the induction awards presentation will be polo player and star of American’s Most Wanted, John Walsh.
Julian Hipwood has lived and played in the United States for many years and earned a 9-goal rating. During his career he won the 30-goal World Cup 1981-1984; the USPA Monty Waterbury in 1996; the USPA Heritage Cup in 1996; the Barrantes Memorial Tournament; and captured many of Royal Palm Polo Club’s 26-goal Sunshine League tournaments. A player with great international success, Julian was captain of the English National team winning the Coronation Cup six times, and the British Gold and Queen’s Cups, among other prestigious tournaments. Julian became a sought-after coach and coached the Coca Cola team when it won the U.S. Open Championship in 2002.
Canadian-born Lewis Lacey had a long and distinguished international polo career in the early part of the 1900s, representing England in the Westchester Cup, and captaining Argentina in the Cup of the Americas. He was a member of the famed Argentine team that took the U.S. Open in 1922, and won the Argentine Open seven times between 1915 and 1937, as well as several other notable tournaments in England and Argentina. Lewis played frequently in America, almost every year from 1922 until 1931, never handicapped less than 9-goals and was rated at 10-goals between 1915 and 1932. Lewis also wrote about the game; his better know essays being Equitation in the Game of Polo and The Judge’s Task in Polo Pony Shows.
A well-known figure in polo for over 60 years, Dave Rizzo was, for over 30 of those years, the longtime manager of the famed Meadow Brook Polo Club, and was also the manager of the Squadron A Armory and the Old Westbury Polo Club. Being an accomplished outdoor and arena player, horse trainer, seller and club manager made it possible for him to help many new players get started in the sport of polo. He was known as a skilled horseman and well-liked sportsman in many parts of the country by a variety of players. Considered a mentor to many, he made it possible for others to experience polo and to become accomplished players and team sponsors.
“Big Joe” Muldoon was not only an iconic figure of polo in Maryland, Virginia and throughout the East in the 1980’s and 1990’s, his influence stretched around the globe. A versatile horseman who did not get into polo until middle age, his tournament wins include the USPA Monty Waterbury, Association and Chairman’s Cups and the 8-Goal Championship with his Gone Away Farms team. He helped raise millions of dollars for various charities through polo. From 1981-1989, Joe conceived, underwrote and mounted players in a dynamic series of high-goal “All-Star” international polo games featuring the best of both foreign and American high-goal players. He was president of the Potomac and Poolesville Polo Clubs where he helped to train an entire generation of polo players, including his well-known and talented polo-playing progeny Michael, “Little Joe,” Mary and Charlie.
In the 1930s Red Ace was the favorite pony of the great 10 goal polo player Elmer Boeseke. Considered to be the star of the West’s team in the infamous 1933 and 1934 East/West matches, the great chestnut gelding won the hearts of fans of both East and West alike when, in the grueling 1933 match, he turned and trotted back to nuzzle his master, Boeseke, who lay prone on the ground, unconscious after being knocked off in a particularly rough play. For his outright speed, great courage and tenacity Red Ace won Best Playing Pony for the West in the 1933 series. He added to his laurels when judged the Best Polo Pony in the National Polo Pony Society Show 1934, an epic event, and became one of only two geldings to ever have won this prestigious award. The great Norty Knox said of Red Ace, he was “a brilliant pony.”
Hector Galindo’s great dark bay mare, Khaki, proved she was a super star by winning the Best Playing Pony of the 1995 Silver Cup, 1995 East Coast Open, 1997 Sterling Cup, 1998 Silver Cup, 2000 Gold Cup of the Americas, and the 2003 Iglehart Cup. Loved for her quiet disposition around the barn, this gallant mare also had it all on the field – heart, stamina, quick acceleration, sustained speed and incredible overall athletic ability. But further, she seemed to have an innate ability to read the game. “One of the things that makes Khaki so unique is her big heart”, says Galindo. ‘She’s always been a mare with a lot of power and the quickness. That’s what makes her such a great mare.” Khaki is currently a broodmare in Oklahoma, but being recently retired, none of her foals are yet old enough to have started playing polo.
Reservations for this black tie affair are $200.00 per person. Seating is limited so please make your reservations early if you wish to attend. Reception hour Sponsor Station opportunities are also available and silent auction items are welcomed at this time. Please contact Brenda Lynn at the Museum of Polo: (561) 969-3210 or (561) 969-7015, fax: (561) 964-8299 or e-mail: for further details, information and reservations.