Boston Common - Niche Media - A side of Boston that's anything but common.
Issue link: http://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/498400
cost s less t ha n $1,0 0 0 a mont h. By compa r ison, polo ponies—ponies they're not, that's just the no- menclature—at t he pea k of t heir ca reers sell for tens of thousands of dollars. Har vard's recently acquired barn and indoor arena in Hamilton leases some of its horses to play- ers with the Boston Polo League, providing addi- tional resources and infrastructure to help grow the sport. Crocker Snow, a retired foreign correspon- dent who has played polo in 24 countries, encour- ages new players to get muck up to the elbows in order to fully appreciate the full polo experience. L i ke h is fat her, Nick Snow sees t he spor t 's sur v iva l in recr uit ing a new generat ion of polo enthusiasts, adding new blood to blue blood. His w ife, A ma nda, works in player development for the US Polo Association, running youth tourna- ments around the count r y with the same goal in mind. "We just have to make it more possible for people to play," says Snow. "We're creating step- pi ng stones l i ke t he Boston Polo L eag ue a nd feeding players into Stage Hill Polo." Ultimately, the Snow dynast y sees the game's sensor y appea l—t he g r unt of polo ponies on a 70 -yard sprint, the creak of oiled leather, the light- ning crack of mallet on ball—and the relationship bet ween horse and rider as its most compelling a spect s. A s t he polo ma nt ra goes, "Two heads, four legs, one heart." "It 's i ndescr ibable, work i ng i n u n ison w it h a t housa nd-pou nd a n i ma l f ly i ng dow n t he f ield hitting a ball," says Nick Snow. "There is nothing like it. We just hope more people can experience this great thrill and unique connection with some pret t y cool a n i ma ls a nd a ma z i ng at h letes." Myopia Hunt Club, 435 Bay Road, South Hamilton, 978-468-4433; myopiapolo.org BC WHERE TO WATCH Myopia Hunt Club: The epicenter of Boston polo is the Myopia Hunt Club in South Hamilton, where the Myopia Polo Club stages youth, club, and professional matches from May through September. 435 Bay Road, South Hamilton, 978-468-7656; myopiapolo.org Norfolk Hunt Club: The Norfolk Hunt Club hosts an annual polo exhibition, Polo in the Country, featuring Norfolk riders against other clubs at its Steeplechase Course. Games for children, tailgating prizes, and entertainment by the hounds of the Norfolk Kennel are featured at the September event. 240 North St., Medfield, 508-359-5415; norfolkhunt.com Newport International Polo Series: Newport Polo, played at Glen Farm in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, features top-flight professional Saturday matches from June through September, kicking off with the US versus Monaco on June 6. 715 E. Main Road, Portsmouth, RI, 401-847-7090; nptpolo.com WHO TO WATCH When it comes to the Boston polo scene, keep an eye out at Myopia for the brothers Snow—Nick, Connor, and Adam, all excellent players—as well as their father, Crocker, who coaches at Harvard. Franz Colloredo-Mansfeld can be spotted at Myopia playing with the family Black Oak stable polo team, including sons Seppi, Johann, and Simon, and daughter Annie. Terri Campbell, a Boston portfolio manager, played in Newport for 10 years but now rides at Myopia. Along with Amanda Poor, she is among the top female players in New England. Past Myopia Polo captains Ted Raymond and Lyle Graham and members of the Coke clan— father Bill and sons Barrett and Hamilton—are fixtures at Gibney Field. Donald Little Jr., who has played on three continents and has served on the board of governors of the US Polo Association, is a Myopia mainstay who serves as president of Centennial Farms, one of the top thoroughbred racing stables in the country. Who's Who, a nd Wher e The top clubs and players in New England. "we have to mak e it possible for mor e people to pl ay. we'r e cr eating steppingstones lik e the boston polo league." —nick snow bostoncommon-magazine.com 115