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Carlos Gracida

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Children
  
Carlos Jr., Mariano

Name
  
Carlos Gracida

Parents
  
Guillermo Gracida


Carlos Gracida Carlos Gracida polo player who taught Princes William and


Born
  
September 5, 1960 (
1960-09-05
)

Died
  
February 25, 2014, Delray Beach, Florida, United States

Tribute to carlos gracida the greatest polo player dchic


Carlos Gracida (September 5, 1960 – February 25, 2014) was a Mexican polo player. He reached a 10-goal handicap at the age of 25.

Contents

Carlos Gracida PoloLine GALLERIES The official site of Polo

Carlos gracida is gracida polo


Biography

Carlos Gracida Carlos Gracida Polo Legend

Gracida was born in Mexico City. 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. Gracida first reached 10 goals in 1985, and 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.

Carlos Gracida Carlos Gracida dead 39Queen39s favourite polo player39 who

In 1994 Gracida 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 replicated twice, in 1988 and 1994.

Carlos Gracida Royal polo coach Carlos Gracida dies in accident Telegraph

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

Carlos Gracida mediacmgdigitalcomsharedimgphotos20140225

Gracida was ranked 9 goals in England, where he was reportedly HM Queen Elizabeth's favorite player. He was a favorite instructor with celebrities and royalty and gave 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.

Gracida'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, a seven time Gold Cup winner in England.

Gracida lived in Wellington, Florida, with his two teenage sons, Carlitos and Mariano, both polo players. On February 25, 2014, Gracida died of injuries suffered in a match that afternoon at the Everglades Polo Club in Wellington. He was reportedly injured when his horse was accidentally struck in the head with a mallet, causing the animal to jerk its head and hit Gracida. Gracida fell off his horse, which then rolled on top of him. He was transported to Delray Medical Center in critical condition and later died there.

References

Carlos Gracida Wikipedia


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