Carlos Gracida

Carlos Gracida, is a polo player, considered by many to be a living legend, and one of the few who has been ranked at a 10-goal handicap, which he reached at the age of twenty-five.

Biography

Carlos was born in Mexico City, Mexico on September 5, 1960. As a product of the Gracida polo dynasty, Carlos began playing when he was only five years old and began competing at the age of ten. His father Guillermo was a 9-goaler who played in Meadowbrook and Palermo in Argentina and still enjoyed the distinction of 5-goals at the age of 65. Carlos first reached 10 goals in 1985, and has since spent over fifteen years at this handicap. He was a member of Ellerstina, the legendary team owned by Australian magnate Kerry Packer, and also of La Espadana, considered by many as the best polo team of the last twenty years.

1994 was a golden year for Carlos, when he won nearly every possible tournament in the game, including the Argentinian Triple Crown of Hurlingham, Tortuguitas and Palermo. That same year, he also won the US Open and the British Open Gold Cup, becoming the only player in history to win the Grand Slam of Polo, in 1987, a feat he later replicated twice, in 1988 and 1994.

Alongside his brother Guillermo Gracida (often referred to as Memo), Carlos has won Player of the Year in America five times, the only other player to do so in history. He has racked up more tournament wins than any player in the history of the game. Along with the Mexican Antonio Herrera and his brother Memo, he is one of three foreigners to win the Abierto Argentino de Palermo, considered the most prestigious tournament, having won five times, and is the only foreigner who has won the Olimpia de Plata, Argentina's Most Valuable Player Award, which he picked up in 1988. He has won the British Open Gold Cup ten times, more than any other player, and has won the US Open nine times. He reached 10 goals in 1985 and has spent fifteen years on and off at 10 goals, including the 2006 season in Palm Beach.

Carlos is currently ranked 9 goals in England, where he is reportedly HM Queen Elizabeth's favorite player. He is a favorite instructor with celebrities and royalty and has given lessons to HRH Prince Charles, HRH Prince William, HRH Prince Harry, King Constantine II of Greece, HRH Prince Talal of Jordan, James Packer and Sylvester Stallone.

Carlos's most famous horse was "Chesney", who won the Best Playing Pony award numerous times, including in 1988, 1989 and 1991 at the British Open Gold Cup. His personal favorite was "Nony Nony", seven times Gold Cup winner in England.

He lives in Wellington, Florida with his two teenage sons, Carlitos and Mariano, both polo players. Carlos loves Cinema, specially biopics. He play golf, tennis and his second favorite sport is alpine ski.

References

* [http://www.poloplayersedition.com/new/may2005.html Polo Players Edition]
* [http://www.worldpolotour.com/players_profile.php?id=17 World Polo Tour Profile]
* [http://www.carlosgracida.com Carlos Gracida]
* [http://www.polomexico.com/ Mexico 2008 World Polo Championship]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PhR6ULhJtYM/ Oficial video for Mexico 2008 Championship]
* [http://mx.groups.yahoo.com/group/polo21mex// Mex Polo Magazine]