Evening star., 1939-06-04
Americans Quickly
Dominate Sport
Adopted in 7Os
British, Beginning PIoy
In 80, in Saddle Until
Whitney Speeds Play
BY LAWRENCE PERRY,


stirring aspects-the abandon of
thoroughbred steeds almost inces-
sanity at full gallop, the reckless
gallantry of their riders, in varied
and vivid color, in all phases of
environment-the 18th series for
the International Polo Challenge
Cup between Great Britain and
the United States, which be4ns
on the famous International Field
at Westbury, Long Island, tomorrow
eXemplifies Signally and exclusively
heritage from the age of chivalry
Those of the diplomatic corps, the
Army and Navy, the National and
State Legislatures who have ac-
cepted official invitations as guests
and the general character of those
who have taken boxes and seats
reservations have been made from
all parts of the world-make cer-
tain that the series will be attended
by the most brilliant and cosmo-
politan throng ever to witness a
sporting event in this country and
that all records for attendance at a
polo series will be broken.
First English Match in II.
While American polo was trans
planted from England, it is not in
its origin an English game, and,
indeed, was played here not so
long after its introduction in Eng
land in 1869 by the 10th HuSsars
The first recorded match in that
country was a contest in 1871 be-
tween teams representing the Hus-
sar outfit and the 9th Lancers on
HounsloW Heath.
Informal polo was played in the
United States in WeStchester
County, N. Y, only three or four
years later, and, seven years after
England saw its first match game
polo was being played on an organ
lied basis on this side of the
Atlantic.
Bob GranniSs and other indoor
polo enthusiasts probably take pride
in the fact that polo in it's initiatory
stages here was played under a
roof at the old Dickels Riding
Academy, which used to stand al
Thirty ninth street and Fifth avenue
in New York City.
Gave Name to Ball Park.
A year or two later the pioneers
of the game, William Jay, Perry
Belmont, Charles Franklin, John
Io, nc
Gordon Bennett, the younger, took
polo outdoors to the Jerome Park
Race Track. Deciding in 1880 to
bring the game nearer town, a field
was laid out at 10th street at the
north end of Central Park. Less
than a decade later, it was neces-
sary to move again, this time to
155th street and Eighth avenue.
Organized bas ball took over tht
10th street arena, and, when pole
migrated to Long Island, the Ma.
tional League moved uptown to tn,
155th street field. Thus the name
Polo Grounds, accepted by the
Giants both for the 10th street and
155th street fields, had the soundest
sort of warrant.
With England having a priority
OF but few years in the sport, pole
nonetheleSS is the most ancient OF
all games played with ball and stick
reaching as it does back into the
misty ages of the Persian prime
spreading thence to Constantinople
rTihot Chino onI Toroo
Early Play in Brooklyn.
While the polo center in this
country was removed to Meadow
Brook and Cedarhurst, champion
ship matches always were played in
Prospect Park in Brooklyn until the
late COS, when satisfactory fields foI
title contests were developed on
Long Island. Intense rivalry among
the Meadow Brook, Rockaway Hunt
ing and the Dedham and Myopia
Clubs of New England will be re-
called by veteran followers of the
sport.
The English had a very easy time
tn the first match between the
Hurlingham Club and the West
chester Club, played at Newport, R
l., in 1886. for the WestcheSter
Trophy-now known as the Inter-
national Challenge Cup. They knew
q lot more about polo than did the
Americans, and in 1902. when the
American team went overseas, nc
less difficulty was experienced in
defending the cup.
But in 1909, when the United
States next sent a four in quest of
the trophy, it was a very different
outfit from any that ever had been
seen anywhere since polo was played
Harry Payne Whitney had devel-
oped the idea there was lot more
in the game than ever had been
revealed.
America Changes Game.
So Whitney originated the inter-
locking of the four players into a
differentiation play, as he called
it-in which the back and the No
3 fed the ball to the forwards UP
or down field or across field. wher-
ever they were; the forwards ther
pressing on to score.
But, of course, there were other
occasions in which the back or the
No. 3 was allowed to storm through
and make his own score with their
fellows riding off the defense. In
short. team play
Besides, the Whitney four and al
American teams thereafter played
from the irons, the stirrups, instead
Of seated solidly in the saddles as
the British did until the past few
years.
No one in England and the United
States thought the American in
vaders of 1909 had chance to win
A definite notion that they would
win developed in England, how
ever, among shrewd observers who
saw the Meadow Brook team al
practice. In fact. the Duke Of
Sutherland, so Whitney once tolo
this writer, sent back his tickets fol
the series and went to his country
home, not desiring to see England
which, as all know, it did.
Eight Series Won by U. S.
IN all, II series have been played