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.