#PoloHistory

[seolapolo-blog]

U.S. Polo Assn. Celebrates 135 Years of Sporting Excellence

This milestone was marked with exclusive events, a commemorative collection, and a dynamic brand campaign, reinforcing its enduring influence in the world of polo.

In equestrian sports, few names evoke the same sense of heritage and prestige as U.S. Polo Assn. As the official brand of the United States Polo Association (USPA), it has long been synonymous with the refined excitement of polo. Established in 1890, the USPA has been pivotal in cultivating and promoting polo across North America and beyond Read more.

[eton75]

The Legacy of Lagos Polo Club: A Glimpse Into Nigeria’s Elite Sporting History

I learned how to play polo in the 1960s at the Lagos Polo Club, Nigeria’s most prestigious and oldest polo institution. Established in 1904 by the Kaiser of Germany, it was the exclusive playground of the colonial elite—military officers and civil servants who shaped the country’s early governance.

The club has stood the test of time, surviving political intrigue, coups, and government intervention. In 1968, then-Head of State Yakubu Gowon, who lived next door at Dodan Barracks, attempted to convert the club into a helicopter landing center. However, intense pushback from senior military and police officers—many of whom played polo there—forced him to back down to avoid a coup.

For decades, the Lagos Polo Club was more than just a sporting venue. It was a networking hub where military leaders, business moguls, and senior government officials mingled over a game of polo and a cold Star Beer, often sealing major contracts and political alliances. However, when General Buhari came to power as a military ruler, he abused this insider trust—using his agents to spy on members and detain those he saw as threats. The club became deserted, as fear of saying the wrong thing after a few drinks could land someone in jail. The day Buhari was toppled in a coup, the club returned to its former glory, and members celebrated in style.

At times, the club’s leadership had to defend its elite status, expelling undesirables to maintain its prestigious membership. Tribal rivalries also flared, especially during tournaments between Lagos and the northern clubs of Kano, Katsina, and Kaduna, leading to bitter disputes that once caused the polo federation to split.

Despite its challenges, Lagos Polo Club has always been a melting pot of cultures, one of the most interracial polo clubs in the world. While the British-dominated era of the 1960s saw occasional racial tensions, the club became more inclusive after their departure.

Today, playing polo there requires significant wealth, with members now importing Argentinian polo ponies instead of using local Nigerian horses. Watching recent videos of the refurbished club, I am pleased to see that Lagos Polo Club is alive and thriving. The children of my old polo friends now lead the club, welcoming international polo players and media to its modernized grounds.

The club remains a symbol of tradition, exclusivity, and prestige—a testament to the resilience of Nigeria’s elite sporting culture.

#LagosPoloClub #PoloHistory #NigeriaElite #SportingTradition #PoloLegacy #LagosHighSociety #NigerianHistory

[artanddesignmatters]

Museum archival documents revealed that the United States Polo Association made a motion to commission the artist, Frank Voss, to paint the portrait of Milburn on Jacobs and have it “presented to Mr. Milburn as a mark of the Association’s appreciation of his having acted as Captain of the International Team which won the cup….in 1921” Franklin Brooke Voss (1880-1953) – Franklin Voss was the son of William Voss, a founder of the Rockaway Hunt Club, and he grew up riding to the hounds, once saying he could “scarcely remember a time when horses ranked second either in his mind or in his daily life.” His artistic gifts, too, were apparent when he was a young boy, and he was sent to the Art Students’ League in New York City. As his talent became recognized, he was commissioned by the leading families in racing, fox hunting and polo, painting the famous Thoroughbreds including Man o’War, Seabiscuit and Whirlaway. He traveled extensively, painting across the U.S.A. and in England, and set up his easel at racetracks, stables and the open field, preferring to work with the horses in their natural element. Highly prized in private collections, his work was also published in books and magazines. REF: Signage at Museum of Polo and Hall of Fame | Lake Worth, Florida Photo Credit: Alice Lowe for the Art & Design Matters Florida Art Crawl #ArtandDesignMatters #admMuseumSupport #admSupportsTheArts #MuseumOfPolo #artmuseum #VisitLakeWorth #VisitFlorida #ArtCollector #ArtCollection #art #artists #ArtHistory #ArtCurator #ArtAppraiser #ArtEnthusiast #MuseumCurator #LetsGoToTheMuseum #CultureTrip #CultureTravler #CultureTravel #WestchesterCup #UnitedStatesPoloAssociation #polo #polomatch #polohistory #polocup #thoroughbred #VisitWestPalmBeach #VisitPalmBeach (at Museum of Polo & Hall of Fame) https://www.instagram.com/p/B9XllU0gmjN/?igshid=nvf0nuopajhw

[artanddesignmatters]

Museum archival documents revealed that the United States Polo Association made a motion to commission the artist, Frank Voss, to paint the portrait of Milburn on Jacobs and have it “presented to Mr. Milburn as a mark of the Association’s appreciation of his having acted as Captain of the International Team which won the cup….in 1921”   Franklin Brooke Voss (1880-1953) – Franklin Voss was the son of William Voss, a founder of the Rockaway Hunt Club, and he grew up riding to the hounds, once saying he could “scarcely remember a time when horses ranked second either in his mind or in his daily life.” His artistic gifts, too, were apparent when he was a young boy, and he was sent to the Art Students’ League in New York City. As his talent became recognized, he was commissioned by the leading families in racing, fox hunting and polo, painting the famous Thoroughbreds including Man o’War, Seabiscuit and Whirlaway.   He traveled extensively, painting across the U.S.A. and in England, and set up his easel at racetracks, stables and the open field, preferring to work with the horses in their natural element. Highly prized in private collections, his work was also published in books and magazines.   REF: Signage at Museum of Polo and Hall of Fame | Lake Worth, Florida   Photo Credit: Alice Lowe for the Art & Design Matters Florida Art Crawl #ArtandDesignMatters #admMuseumSupport #admSupportsTheArts #MuseumOfPolo #artmuseum #VisitLakeWorth #VisitFlorida #ArtCollector #ArtCollection #art #artists #ArtHistory #ArtCurator #ArtAppraiser #ArtEnthusiast #MuseumCurator #LetsGoToTheMuseum #CultureTrip #CultureTravler #CultureTravel #WestchesterCup #UnitedStatesPoloAssociation #polo #polomatch #polohistory #polocup #thoroughbred #VisitWestPalmBeach #VisitPalmBeach (at Museum of Polo & Hall of Fame) https://www.instagram.com/p/B9XllU0gmjN/?igshid=t9ontg8ayfse