POLO MUSEUM’S HALL OF FAME “OSCAR NIGHT”

Four Locals Honored

Submitted by Brenda Lynn

Though fierce wind and rain pounded the marquee mercilessly just an hour before the event, threatening at one point to take the entire venue with it, on Friday, February 12^th, 2010 a record-breaking crowd of 410 people turned out at the Museum of Polo to celebrate and welcome into the Polo Hall of Fame six legends of the sport; super-star of the 20’s and 30’s Lewis Lacey, living legend Julian Hipwood, Iglehart award winners Dave Rizzo and the late “Big Joe” Muldoon along with Horses to Remember, Red Ace and Hector Galindo’s Khaki.

Just by sheer coincidence, four of this year’s honorees in the Polo Hall of Fame make or have made their homes in Wellington; Julian Hipwood, the late Joe Muldoon, Dave Rizzo and the polo pony Khaki, owned by local polo player Hector Galindo.

Originally from England, Julian Hipwood has lived, played polo and thrilled fans in the United States for many years and has made Wellington his second home. During his playing days in the U.S. Julian attained a 9 goal rating and is remembered as one of the most popular polo stars of the 80s and 90s, winning the prestigious World Cup four times when Palm Beach Polo was at its zenith. This along with his extraordinary International success has earned him the status of a living legend. Among his championships won abroad which are too numerous to detail, Julian was captain of the English National team for twenty years winning the Coronation Cup six times, and the Cowdray Gold Cup for the British Open twice and two time winner of the Queen’s Cup and was twice a finalist in the prestigious Argentine Open, receiving a standing ovation in 1978, the only Englishman to ever receive this honor.

Although his high-goal polo days are behind him, Julian has continued to influence the sport and became a sought-after coach. In that role he guided the Coca Cola team to victory when it won the U.S. Open Championship in 2002. The dashing Hipwood and his lovely wife Patricia have been notable figures of the Palm Beach Social scene since he began playing polo here.

“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. Part of the early polo scene here in Wellington, he first lived in Loxahatchee, where Joe’s son, Charlie, now lives during polo season, and then from 1995 until 2003 Joe and wife Alyse made Palm Beach Polo and Country Club their home.   A versatile horseman who did not get into polo until middle age, he had many polo tournament wins with his Gone Away Farms team. But his more important accomplishments were in the millions of dollars he was instrumental in raising 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 encourage and train an entire generation of polo players, including his well-known and talented polo-playing progeny Michael, “Little Joe,” Mary and Charlie.

A well-known figure in polo for over 60 years, current Wellington resident Dave Rizzo, was for over 30 of those years, the 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 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. Dave has lived in the Wellington area for over 30 years with his late wife Marilyn.

Khaki, one of the four-footed heroes being inducted into the Hall of Fame, was owned and played by long-time Wellington resident Hector Galindo. The incredible bay mare who was played often on the local polo fields at both Palm Beach Polo and the new International Polo Club, has more than proved her greatness by winning the Best Playing Pony of the nation’s most important polo tournament in from 1995 – 2003. Loved for her quiet disposition around the barn, this gallant polo pony 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. “That’s what makes her such a great mare.”  Although having spent a great number of her polo playing years in Wellington, Khaki is currently a broodmare in Oklahoma.