Sunny Hale Memorial Tribute

 

 

 

Friends of Hale are invited to visit and pay their respects during that time.

 

Visiting hours are Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

 

There will be a community photo board to post photos and small written mementos if you have something you wish to share for the memorial.

 

	Courtesy Wellington Magazine. Photo by Bill Barbosa

 

Hale, the first woman in polo history to win the U.S. Open in a male-dominated sport, died due to complications from cancer at the Norman (Okla.) Regional Hospital. She was 48.

 

Her passion for polo was felt by all who knew her. Her warmth and tireless energy inspiring others throughout the world will live on through her legacy.

 

The world’s greatest women’s polo player founded the Women’s Championship Tournament (WCT) that opened the door and broke down barriers for other girls and women to pursue their passion. 

 

She helped revive the U.S. Women’s Open in 2011.

 

Because she helped promote and build the sport among women, it is the fastest growing sector in polo around the world.

 

In 2000, Hale, a member of the Outback team, was the first woman to have won the 26-goal U.S. Open, the sport’s most prestigious event and to achieve a 5-goal handicap rating, the highest handicap a woman has ever received among men players. She later created a rating system for women at all levels. She also improved resources regarding polo ponies by starting the American Polo Horse Association, a website where players and owners can collect, preserve and record horses’ pedigrees.

 

“It is fantastic how far women have come in polo,” Hale said recently. “In polo we have one of the most unique opportunities that women can play on an equal basis as men.”

 

Hale was a motivational speaker travelling around the world not only talking to polo players and coaches, but major corporations and businesses. She shared her inspiring journey of success and acceptance in a male-dominated sport.

 

She is recognized by both men and women as the most accomplished and well-liked woman polo player in the world. She was hired to play by the best patron and male players, including top-ranked Adolfo Cambiaso of Argentina, for more than 20 seasons. She became the first woman to be named Most Valuable Player in several high goal tournaments.

 

Hale has been a role model for future generations of women polo players. She started writing books to share what she has learned along the way to the top of her profession.

 

In 2012, she was inducted into the National Cowgirl Hall of Fame and has earned Woman Polo Player of the Year an unprecedented seven times. Hale has been featured in Sports Illustrated, the New York Times and ESPN.

 

The Museum of Polo is located at 9011 Lake Worth Road in Lake Worth. For questions or information, please call the Museum at 561-969-3210 or emailpolomuseum@att.net.