POLO LEGEND

Memo Gracida

Memo Gracida Guillermo “Memo” Gracida, Jr., was born on July 25, 1956. Memo was born in Mexico City into the first family of Mexican polo. While his father’s generation cemented the Gracidas’ reputation on the polo fields of North America, it was Memo who took the success to the next level internationally. Riding by age two, and playing tournament polo by ten, Memo became a force to be reckoned with at a young age. By 1977, Memo had relocated to San Antonio, Texas, to play for Stephen M. Gose, sponsor of the powerful Retama polo team, where Memo won his first U.S. Open in 1977. It was this win that left Memo wanting more.

His international career includes several record-setting achievements. Most notably, Gracida holds the highest record of 16 U.S. Open Championship victories and the most consecutive years as a 10-goal professional polo player, 21-years. These many global major tournament wins led to Memo’s selection as Player of the Centennial Era in 1990 and his induction into the National Polo Hall of Fame in 1997; the first time an active player had ever been inducted.

While his competitive spirit and unmatched ability as a player is truly impressive, Memo’s passion to teach, educate, and coach current and future players is his true market niche. Memo continues to travel the world playing at a competitive level and providing his week-long clinics, known as La Herradura Classic. He and his wife, Meghan, currently reside in Santa Ynez, California, at their new property, La Herradura Polo & Equestrian Center, where they offer a full service polo program.

memo's legacy

For the future of polo to be preserved, we need to create venues where new blood can enter the sport the correct way, by learning in a safe environment and on nice, safe horses. We aim to create a love and passion for horses in the next generation. MEMO

A Look Back

1976

1977

won the Camacho Cup

First time Mexico beat USA, Memo’s first time playing in the US. Mexico has not lost the Camacho Cup since then.

1977

1977

1st U.S. Open Win

San Antonio, Texas

1982 -1983

1982-1983

Wins 4 matches

1982- won the Argentine Open
1982- won the US Open
1983- won the World Cup
1983- won the British Gold Cup

1986

1986

Wins Queens Cup
1990

1990

won Player of the Centennial Era

2001

2001

Kalimán Inducted into the Hall of Fame

Memo’s famous horse Kalimán was inducted into the Hall of Fame

2004

2004

won his 16th US Open

The 100-year anniversary of the Open. The individual record holder with the most US Open Polo Championships is Memo with 16 total championships.

2017

2017

started La Herradura Polo Club

Santa Ynez, CA

2019

2019

Mr. Polo was inducted into the Hall of Fame

Santa Ynez, CA

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Born and raised on the Central Coast of California, Meghan Gracida has always nurtured her athleticism and competitive spirit.  As a collegiate athlete, Meghan’s perseverance, determination, and work ethic on the volleyball court would later translate into the accomplished polo player we know today.

Meghan was first introduced to the world of horses and the game of polo by her husband and polo legend, Memo Gracida in 2012.  With Memo’s incredible coaching and exceptional horses, Meghan quickly developed as a polo player and began playing competitively in November of 2017. Since then, she has competed and won multiple national and international tournaments in both women’s and mixed polo, most notably the 2018 USPA Champions Cup, the 2019 USPA Women’s Texas Open, and the 2020 USPA Women’s Pacific Coast Open, Copa Diamanté in Argentina. 

In 2022, after recovering from an 8-month health battle, Meghan returned to Argentina to play in the first ever women’s 40-goal Triple Crown. Alongside teammates Hazel Jackson, Milly Hine, and Clara Cassino, they made history, winning the first two legs of the series. 

Incredibly passionate for women’s polo, Meghan is currently the US Polo Association Women’s Committee Chair. She is devoted to promoting ladies’ polo and she works to provide women more and equal playing opportunities nationally, including running the Ladies’ Polo League every Friday at the couple’s polo facility, La Herradura Polo Club.

When not on the field, Meghan and Memo share their passion for polo at La Herradura, delivering a world class polo experience in the heart of Santa Ynez, California.

HER STORY

Meghan Gracida

La Herradura

INstructors

MARIANO “NANO” GRACIDA
CARLITOS GRACIDA
MARIANO “NANO” GRACIDA
Nano is the youngest son of Carlos Gracida and has been traveling the United States since he was 15 years old playing polo professionally. Since the inception of his career, he has made his mark by winning renowned 20 goal tournaments, including the East Coast Open, the Ylvisakar Cup, and the Herbie Pennel Cup. Today, Mariano works year-round at La Herradura Polo Club as a professional polo player, an instructor, and manager. He holds a 4-goal handicap and enjoys helping beginners get into the sport of polo.
CARLITOS GRACIDA

Born January 13, 1991, Carlos Jr. is the oldest son of the late Carlos Gracida, the most celebrated player in the history of the game. Growing up as a fourth-generation polo player and a predominant member of the Gracida polo dynasty, Carlos started his mastery of polo at five years old with his father, the best possible mentor, teaching him every step of the way. Holding a 4-goal handicap, Carlos has won back-to-back $100,000 World Cups; he won the US Open semifinal in 2014 with Valiente Polo Team and lost the semifinals of the US Open in 2006 with his father and Uncle Memo in overtime.

This year, Carlos and his wife, Ailsa, moved to Santa Ynez to be near family and La Herradura Polo Club, where he is a year-round professional and instructor. In addition to providing his knowledge for the sport as a trainer at La Herradura Polo Club, he is gearing up to compete in the Pacific Coast Open Championship (the oldest trophy in the USA, since 1908) with La Karina Polo Team.