The Carlos Gracida Memorial Trophy at Cowdray Park
Carlos Gracida, ten times winner of the Cowdray Park Gold Cup for the British Open Polo Championship, who died as a result of a polo accident in Florida on 25 February 2014, is to have a permanent trophy endowed in his memory. The Hon Charles and Lila Pearson have commissioned The Carlos Gracida Memorial Trophy to be presented to the winners of the opening match of the 2014 Veuve Clicquot Gold Cup tournament at Cowdray Park Polo Club on 24th June.
In a record which has never been equalled, all but one of Gracida’s victories in the Gold Cup were played on Cowdray Park’s Lawns 1 ground and his family have asked if the match can be played there. Five of his ten record wins were with Anthony Embiricos’ Tramontana team which itself holds the unbeaten team record of five victories in the Gold Cup, three of them with David Jamison as co-patron. Carlos Gracida also won the US Open nine times in his outstanding career.
Members of the Gracida family will be travelling to the UK for the first Carlos Gracida Memorial Trophy. Vice President of Cowdray Park Polo Club, the Hon Lila Pearson says: “Charles and I wanted to pay tribute to the extraordinary legacy which Carlos has left at Cowdray Park. He was respected and admired for his enormous skills and loved for the warmth of his personality. He leaves a great gap in our lives.”
Public admission on 24th June for The Carlos Gracida Memorial Trophy will be £5 per person. Following the match, the league phase of the 2014 Veuve Clicquot Gold Cup continues until Quarter Finals which will be played over the weekend of 12/13th July. In a break with tradition, the Semi-Finals will be played on Wednesday 16th July to permit extra time for setting up the Final taking place on Sunday 20th July. For further information and online booking visit www.cowdraypolo.co.uk.