Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1913-07-26

" kings, polo is the sport OF |
lii millionaires. Any king. |
even though he may
be an insignificant Indian
IA potentate or ruler or a
- Balkan state, with peck
etbook of slim proportions, may own
racing stable, but only man OF great
wealth can afford to maintain Dig
string of polo ponies. For race horses.
" they are fast, can earn their keep
and make a profit for their owner But
a polo pony is nothing but an expense
from the day he is bought until the
day of his death. The only thing ne
can earn is a modicum OF glory and
few, cups which as rule do not cost
as much as his saddle and bride. From
this it may be CLEANED that between
racing and polo there is distinction
with difference. Harry Payne Whit
ney spent $4,000 on the international
polo series of games played at Meadow
brook, L. l. The duke of Westmin-
sters expenses for the polo challen-
gers amounted to 100000. All this for
! the Sdh6 VI d SllfCl biOphy ~
! $4,000.
! The cost of polo depends largely
upon the inclination and desire of the
poloists to spend money. Some men
can enjoy the sport at an outlay OF a
few hundred dollars a week, while 9TH
ers will spend as many thousands.
II. l.. Herbert, chairman Of the Polo
association, recently said in reference
to the cost of polo: ut all depends on
how much a man wishes to spend on
the game One man may be satisfied
to own and maintain three ponies,
while another will want at least thirty
at his command. The expense is much
like that Of the opera. One man can
enjoy it for a dollar, while 1t will cost
another thousands for a box"
Harry Payne Whitney and the duke
of Westminster own and keep in train
ing the largest string of polo ponies
in America or England. The mainte-
nance Of these ponies costs them
thousands of dollars each year. They
are the financial backbone Of the
sport in this country and abroad.
Both enjoy the sport thoroughly, and
as they are experts at the sport the
money that they spend yearly is to
them but trivial matter.
But for their generous support OF
the game there would not have been
any international matches during 1909
1911 and 1913. Mr. Whitney supplied
the "sinews of war" which sent abroad
, in 1909 the American team, Of which
he was the captain. 1t was his outlay
of money and purchase of many great
polo ponies that enabled the Ameri
, cans to win the cup which the Eng
lishmen had won and kept for % years
This year the duke Of Westminster
betrayed the expenses Of the Englisf
, challengers. Until he came to the
, financial rescue the English players
, had abandoned all hope of bringing the
ponies over here to play for the trophy
Whitney and the duke of Westmin
, ster each own 80 polo ponies. The.
, lire trainers to develop the speed o
the ponies and teach them the elemen
, tary parts Of the game. The salary o
these trainers is $4,000 each. In add
ton to that there are big corps o
!. stable lads to support, for the attend
!, ants not only receive salaries ranging
> from $25 to $40 a month. but In add
|. ton are allowed their lodging an
= board This. with the cost Of food
saddles, brides, bandages, lotions
medicine and the attendance of a vel
Urinary costs many thousands of do
= lars. A good polo pony these day
!, costs many thousands Of dollars.
: many respects his value is as great a
:, a race horse. though his earning CT
pacity is considerably less than that {
the latter The best ponies are bre
in Ireland and England. but of lat
!. years the ponies bred in Texas, Cal
> fornia and the Hawaiian islands ar
y equal, IL not superior, to the foreigl
- bred horses.
There is now such a great deman
for polo ponies that they are special