This work—the first of its kind in more than sixty years—covers polo in Argentina, from its beginnings in the 1870s to the summer of 2013. The history of the early pioneers is constructed with data not previously published, gathered from contemporary sources. International competitions are covered and include the Olympic Games, the Cup of the Americas and the World Championships. Particular attention is given to the major clubs, the Argentine and Hurlingham Open Championships, and the National Handicap Tournament. Several of the elite players merit individual or family mini-biographies. Myths in Argentine polo are also debunked, based upon careful analysis of contemporary sources. Travels abroad by Argentine teams are fully described as are the foreign teams that competed in Argentina. The work is enhanced by the author’s personal observation of significant events and friendship with many of the participants.

A polo player and surgeon, Horace A. Laffaye is on the board of directors of the Museum of Polo and is chairman of the Polo Hall of Fame Nominating Committee. His writings on the game include several books and many articles in magazines in North America, Argentina and England. He divides his time between Connecticut and Florida.

Horace A. Laffaye
Format: softcover (7 x 10)
Pages: 528
Bibliographic Info: 83 photos, appendices, notes, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2014
pISBN: 978-0-7864-7568-1
eISBN: 978-1-4766-1491-5
Imprint: McFarland

Table of Contents


Acknowledgments ix

Foreword by Chris Ashton 1

Preface 4

1. How Polo Started in Argentina 9

2. The First Clubs and Polo in the Hinterland 16

3. The Game Is Organized: The Polo Association of the River Plate 28

4. The Oldest Clubs: Venado Tuerto, Hurlingham, Media Luna and Las Petacas 33

5. Early Championships 1893–1900 40

6. First International Game and Tours to England 50

7. Early Prominent Polo Families 57

8. Palermo: Polo’s Cathedral 66

9. The P.A.R.P. Championships Prior to the Great War 71

10. 1914, Changes to the Rules, and All That 80

11. 1922, a Time for Change: Polo Became Argentine 93

12. Polo in the 1920s 105

13. Campeonato Argentino Abierto de Polo 1923–1930 119

14. Gold Medals Only: The Olympic Games 128

15. Argentina versus U.S.A.: The Cup of the Americas 1928–1936 136

16. The Big Clubs: Growth and Evolution of Los Indios, Tortugas and Coronel Suárez 147

17. Visitors from Foreign Lands 152

18. Argentine Tours Overseas 165

19. Don Paco Ceballos and the National Handicap Championship 177

20. The Argentine Open Championship in the 1930s 185

21. The Years of the Great Depression 194

22. The War Years and the Aftermath 1940–1950 207

23. El Trébol and Venado Tuerto: The Glorious Days of the Giants 218

24. The Changing of the Guard 237

25. The Growth of the Game 1950–1960 251

26. The Cup of the Americas 1950–1980 259

27. The Aristocrat of Polo: The Times of Juancarlitos Harriott 272

28. The Days of Coronel Suárez versus Santa Ana 293

29. The Expansion of the Game in the 1970s 309

30. Argentine Military Polo 321

31. Travels Abroad and the Development of Professionalism 332

32. Argentina and the Federation of International Polo 344

33. The Era of La Espadaña 354

34. Myths in Argentine Polo 371

35. The Decade of ­Indios-Chapaleufú 375

36. 2005–2013: The Years of Ellerstina and La Dolfina 402

37. International Matches in the 21st Century and Some Final Thoughts 419

Appendix A. Polo Championships 429

Appendix B. Polo Pony Awards 460

Appendix C. Presidents of the Asociación Argentina de Polo 463

Appendix D. List of Polo Clubs in Argentina 464

Chapter Notes 478

Bibliography 486

Index 488

“The book’s meticulously researched and deftly rendered history of the game in Argentina is further enhanced by the many photographs interspersed throughout its pages…will rank as a major contribution to the literature of the sport as well as the finest general history of polo in the pampas”—Polo Players Edition; “a well-written and detailed account…well illustrated with abundant photographic material…provides a much needed look at the famous clubs, essential associations, and historic polo figures that have contributed to Argentina’s important polo tradition…well-written, well-organized, and well-researched…important and fascinating material”—Journal of Sport History.