LAKE WORTH, FL (October 28, 2026) – The Board of Directors of the Museum of Polo have announced the 2027 inductees into the Museum’s Polo Hall of Fame.
The 2027 honorees are two-time World Cup champion Dale Smicklas, generally regarded as the best No. 4 of his era, Robert Gerry Jr., a highly regarded 8-goaler of the 1930s and early 1940s, influential USPA executive Tom Biddle, Sr., and Allan Scherer, the polo director of Palm Beach Polo during its prime and the first Executive Director of the USPA. They are joined by legendary horses, Disney, owned and played high-goaler Jesse Bray, and Yarara, who was owned and played by Hall of Famer Michael Phipps.
The 38th Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Awards Dinner is one of the premier social events of the winter polo season in Florida. It is scheduled for Friday, February 12, 2027.
Welcome to the Hall of Fame, Dale Smicklas.
Smicklas was an imposing figure on the polo field, a well-admired opponent while expertly controlling the game from the No. 4 position. His defensive prowess and booming shots were part of a well-rounded game that fans loved.
Smicklas lifted numerous championship trophies, including the 30-goal World Cup in 1991 and 1993. Other major tournament victories included the C.V. Whitney (1990), Silver Cup (1985), Pacific Coast Open (1983 and 1984). East Coast Open (1993 and 2002), the Sunshine League twice and he was a U.S. Open finalist twice. Smicklas was very successful internationally, winning the Coronation Cup in 1987, the Silver Jubilee and the Warwickshire Cup.
After retiring he became a USPA Governor-at-Large, as well as commissioner of the WCT, the largest organized women’s tournament series in the world, and was a driving force in the formation and growth of the American Polo Horse Association. He also served as the inaugural commissioner of the World Polo League.
Joining Smicklas in the Hall of Fame is two-time U.S. Open champion (1939 and 1940) Robert L. Gerry Jr., a well-respected player of his era who reached 8 goals while starring in the No. 2 position. Gerry Jr. also won the Monty Waterbury in 1938 and the Junior (now Silver Cup) championship in 1933 and 1938. He was also a finalist in the U.S. Open and the Monty Waterbury in 1941, his final year in polo. His first major title was the 1929 Interscholastic championship while playing for Berkshire-New England.
Tom Biddle Sr. is being honored as the Iglehart Award recipient for his longtime commitment of more than 60 years to improving the sport.
Biddle Sr., who moved to Aiken in 1969, was active with the USPA Board of Governors. He served in a multitude of high-level positions, including Chairman from 2007-2011. He was responsible for the rebirth of the Aiken Polo Club and was a passionate advocate for polo in the southeastern region as well as intercollegiate and interscholastic polo. His oldest son, Tommy, was elected to the Polo Hall of Fame in 2022.
Allan Scherer is being honored as the posthumous Iglehart Award recipient. As a player, Scherer reached 6 goals and won many major tournaments, including the 1971 U.S. Open, the Butler Handicap twice (1971 and 1973) and the 1974 Camacho Cup. As good as he was on the field, Scherer was equally distinguished off the pitch. He guided Palm Beach Polo as polo director during its peak and went on to become the first USPA Executive Director. He also served on numerous committees while initiating many programs, including the traveling clinic instructing new players.
Disney will be recognized as Horses to Remember, in the post-Hartman Award era. Disney is a gray thoroughbred mare owned and played by high-goaler Jesse Bray. She was bred for racing in Canada by John and Linda Gallagher’s 5G’s stable and started in polo by Ashton Wolf.
Disney has been awarded BPP of the Pacific Coast Open in 2017 and 2021, the 2022 Continental Cup, the 2021 Pope Challenge and the 2016 Wickenden Cup. She has played in major U.S. tournaments including the 2022 U.S. Open, the Silver Cup, America Cup, Joe Barry, and Pacific Coast Open.
The Horses to Remember honoree of the early pre-Hartman era is Yarara, a chestnut Argentine-bred mare owned by Hall of Famer Michael Phipps. Yarara was a two-time winner of the coveted Prince Friarstown Cup in 1931 and 1934. She was also one of Phipps’ top ponies in the prestigious East vs. West series in 1933 and 1934 and also in the 1936 Westchester Cup matches.
The black-tie Hall of Fame Awards Dinner is the most important annual fundraising event for the Museum, an independently run, not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Contact the Museum of Polo by phone at (561) 969-3210 or e-mail: info@polomuseum.org for further details.