Evening star., 1933-08-07
POLO CLASSIC TEST
FOR TOO
Hcmebreds to Contest With
Imported Steeds in CON-
ina EaSt.WeSt Matches.
BY FRANCIS ]. POWERS.

~HICAGO, August Mot
4 only will the best polo
~ players in these United
States participate in the
EaSt-West matches that will be
played under the aegis of the
Century of Progress at the On
wentsia Country Club starting
August 13, but also the best polo
ponies that can be rounded up
from Maine to California.
The series in way will be a battle
between homebred and imported ponies
as well as the Eastern and Western
stars. In the East, where polo flrst was
played in America, many OF the best
ponies are imported from England, Ar
gentna and even Australia. But the
mounts that will be used by the West
ern team are home grown, bred and
MidweStern spots.
Western breeders of polo ponies are
proud of their stock and Carleton
Burke of California, who is in charge
of the selection of the Western team,
has received many kilograms from
sportsmen offering him the pick OF their
stables for the matches. The same is
true in the East, where Tommy, Hitch
cock is raising team, 50 both clubs
will be Superbly mounted for the series.
TT takes a string of good mounts to
carry these star polo players, par
ticularly those wild Westerners,
Cecil Smith, Rube Williams, Elmer
Boeseke and Alden Roarke. Smith and
Williams, the Texas cowboys, virtually
have been raised in the saddle and they
have the knack Of getting everything
possible out of mount.
The stamina Of good polo pony
must be tremendous. The Kentucky
Derby, over IA miles, is considered
to be a true test of the stamina
of a thoroughbred race horse. But,
consider the endurance necessary for
a polo pony. The race horse runs the
Derby route in less than three min
utes over fairly open track. The polo
pony on the other hand must, as rule,
60 through a n-and-one-half-m f-min-
ute chukker that demands quick sprints
and stops. sharp turns and frequently
contact with other horses. The polo
mounts also must be sensible to every
demand of their rider and their instinct
is trained to a remarkable degree. AS
Herb Lerber, one of the East-West COM
mittee remarked: Horses are 80 per
cent Of the game of polo.''
Ponies Arriving Daily.
WITH the first game of the East
w West series less than a week
removed, polo ponies are ar
irving at Onwentsia daily and some Of
the contesting players have reached
Chicago. Cecil Smith was here a few
days ago and will be back again soon
to tune up for the big games in practice
matches at Fort Sheridan.
The Western team probably will be
composed of Smith. Williams, Boeseke
and Roarke as regulars. The definite
lineup of the Eastern stars has not
been announced. but it is certain that
both Tommy Hitchcock and Winston
Guest will be in the starting line-ups
Guest played here last Winter in the
national indoor championships and is
a prime favorite with Chicago's hockey
followers. Billy Post, Phipps, Iglehart
and the other Eastern stars also are
well known in Chicago so the Eastern
team will have big following.
But the rank. and file of the specta-
tors at the matches will be cheering for
the Westerners.
The stories of Smith and Williams
and their experiences on the Texas
ranges have made them the favorites of
the folks who take their polo casually
and many will go to the matches for
no other reason than to see the former
cowboys fork cayuse" and start
chasing the ball.