Thu 13th Oct 2016USA Hall of Fame Inductees Announced Museum of Polo to Host 2017 Awards Gala
The Board of Directors of the Museum of Polo and Hall of Fame in Florida has announced that the Nominating Committee has made its selection of individuals who will join the exceptional group of men, women and horses in the Museum’s Hall of Fame for 2017. Mariano Aguerre The 10 goal icon will be honoured for his long and illustrious career in American polo. Known for his essential part of the famed White Birch team, he has been a mainstay in the US since 1987 as a youngster of 18, and went on to capture titles of the most prestigious tournaments among them the U.S. Open twice and eight Gold Cup wins as well as having bred some of the most outstanding ponies of the game. Mariano also, in the true spirit of the Hall of Fame, aspires to give back to the sport he loves. He has, according to Team USPA committee Chairman Charles Smith, been an enormous help in mentoring the aspiring young players of the Team USPA program. John ‘Jackie’ Murphy A star of the 50s and 60s, who won four consecutive U.S. Opens, a record that stood until 1996. He grew up playing polo in the Chicago area and is well remembered as a colourful figure who loomed large as part of the celebrated history of Oakbrook Polo Club. Before his untimely death at the age of 37, Jackie compiled an enviable record in polo. Leverett S. Miller To be honoured for outstanding contributions to the sport will be Museum founder Leverett S. Miller, who through his extraordinary vision and unwavering effort built the only Museum of Polo in the world. Under his leadership, this magnificent home for the art treasures and historic content commemorating our sport was funded, constructed and completed, and a dream became a reality. The doors will have been opened exactly 20 years when Lev and the other inductees are feted in February 2017. Jack Oxley, a great Museum contributor, supporter and member of the Board as well as a Hall of Famer himself, may have summed it up best when he said, “Lev grabbed that ball and ran it in for a touchdown.” George Miller George Miller will be remembered with the posthumous Iglehart award. The founder of the Austin Polo Club and the owner of Miller Field at San Antonio, he was also known for his horsemanship and horses. The great Hall of Famer Cecil Smith, Rube Williams and countless others credit Miller for mentoring them and launching their polo careers, putting both Texan players and horses on the map. As Museum Board member Paul Jornayvaz recalls he, “Was a man who more than anyone else could be credited with building the foundation of polo in Texas.” He also patented a hackamore and a bit known as the Miller Gag, one of Cecil Smith’s favourite training tools. Chicken The Horses to Remember honoree of the early era is Chicken, but don’t be fooled by the plain name. The gallant mare was discovered at the Front Royal Army Remount depot and then as part of the fine string of polo ponies at Ft. Bliss played with heart, courage and tenacity throughout the 20s. She won the major awards of the era, twice in recognition as a mount for the Army serving in their notoriously hard-fought matches and then captured the Prince Friarstown Cup awarded for the best mare playing in the International matches of 1927. Proving herself to be a true war horse, Chicken had earned her place playing for her country and helped to make polo history under Hall of Fame great, Malcolm Stevenson. Nebraska Sunset Charles Smith’s great multi-award winning mare Nebraska Sunset is also to be honored. Purchased as a three-year-old, she was trained by his father Cecil and Charles played her for the next decade. She was the winner of the Hartman Award for Best Playing pony of the U.S. Open in 1980. Charles said, “Nebraska Sunset was probably the best all-round horse I ever owned. She had the best combination of speed and agility, very easy and anyone could play her from a beginner to a professional.” Charles played the mare in two chukkas in the 1979 Cup of the Americas games. The Awards, Gala and Induction Ceremony will take place at the Museum of Polo in Florida on Friday 17 February 2017. If you would like to join in the celebration to welcome these legendary individuals to the Polo Hall of Fame, you may purchase seats for the dinner up to a week in advance. Reservations are $250 each (tax deductible portion $125). Click here to contact Brenda Lynn at the Museum of Polo for further details, information, or to make your reservations. Photograph: Mariano Aguerre before playing in the Argentine Open Final in 2012. By ©www.imagesofpolo.com
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