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
1977
First time Mexico beat USA, Memo’s first time playing in the US. Mexico has not lost the Camacho Cup since then.
1977
San Antonio, Texas
1982-1983
1982- won the Argentine Open
1982- won the US Open
1983- won the World Cup
1983- won the British Gold Cup
1986
1990
2001
Memo’s famous horse Kalimán was inducted into the Hall of Fame
2004
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
Santa Ynez, CA
2019
Santa Ynez, CA
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
HER STORY
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