5 minute read
e Sport of Kings
By Katie Roth Photos by Shelly Marshall Schmidt, Oh Schmidt Productions
Many fathers and sons play catch with a baseball or a football in the yard, but being able to play a team sport together for 25 years is rather unusual.
Winfield’s father and son duo of Rick Hartnett and Willie Hartnett are a part of polo history. They’ve had different teammates occupy the other two spots on their team through the years, but the one constant has been their pledge to each other to play on the same team for as long as they can.
The Hartnetts’ story begins with Rick growing up near Boston, Massachusetts, just down the street from polo player Adam Snow’s father, Crocker Snow, Jr. It was this neighbor who introduced a young Rick to the sport. The first in his family to pick up a mallet, Rick was only 10 years old when he did, but he was hooked right from the start. At age 12, Rick was featured in a young player story in Sports Illustrated magazine. His first pony was not even trained for the game, a fact that didn’t matter to the boy in the least. He would go on to train his own string and play consistently every year thereafter.
Rick’s career has taken him to 4-goals, where he has stayed for the past 10 years. He is an inspiration and role model for his son Willie, who is also now a 4-goal player. “It is interesting to me that the sport can come full circle in my lifetime,” reflects Rick. “I not only play with my son, but with the son of Crocker Snow, Jr. – Adam – who has also played for Winfield.” Adam Snow is a former 10-goaler who has made his own significant impact on the polo world.
Willie Hartnett grew up on the sidelines of his father’s polo matches. Even though he was often playing soccer with his friends during the games, he was undoubtedly learning and absorbing more than was realized. While young, Willie rode hunter jumpers, and the majority of his time was spent at horse
shows in Boston and Wellington with his mom, Ann. But he would often stick and ball with his Dad, and occasionally play at Myopia Polo Club.
Eventually, Willie had to choose the equestrian sport to which he would focus his time and energy; he decided on polo – a choice, he says, that may have been based on the fact that his polo efforts seemed to be having better results than his jumping at the time.
Willie attended the University of Virginia and played on the Intercollegiate Polo Team there. The team made the finals of the Men’s Championships all four years he played with them, winning the title twice.
After college, Willie spent 15 years as a professional polo player. He credits not only his father for being his role model, but also thanks Matias Magrini and Memo Gracida, who taught him how to prepare for the challenges of being a professional athlete.
During those years, polo brought Willie to Aiken. He fell in love with the area and soon became a fulltime resident. He also began developing a business career off the field – but one that would allow him the flexibility to continue to pursue the game he loved. Real estate was the perfect fit for Willie, allowing him to utilize his expertise by specializing in equestrian, as well as non-equestrian, properties. Willy’s father, Rick, then decided to relocate to Aiken, to a property he had originally purchased with Luis Escobar.
Father and son share many aspects of the game, including a deep love and respect for the horses. They each have had wonderful animals during their careers that they have both played at one point or another. Although they have different playing styles, they still purchase horses together. They agree that they must both be able to play them; but, ultimately, the horses are matched to either Rick’s or Willie’s skills.
There are, however, a few aspects of the sport that they don’t share. Barns and grooms are a good example. Each of them has a 12-stall barn at New Bridge, but separated by a breezeway. Grooms are employed by either Rick or Willie, but not both. Both do agree, however, on their choice to own property and play at New Bridge. “The fields are some of the best in the U.S., and we like that they are maintained at such a high level,” Willie observes.
Both men also realize one of the biggest advantages in polo is the quality of the horses, and both have done some of their own breeding to that end. Rick started out training off-the-track Thoroughbreds to become his string. “It’s amazing how the levels of horses and players have improved in my years in the game,” he says. “Today’s horses are noticeably stronger and faster.”
While typical fathers and sons may only talk with one another once a week or even once a month, Rick and Willie converse several times a day. They discuss the health of the horses, plan practice chukkers, and strategize for tournaments. Polo gives them an entirely different dimension to the regular fatherson relationship.
The Winfield team has enjoyed significant success at New Bridge, especially during the past year – most notably with their victories in the USPA Northrup Knox Cup 12-goal last fall and the USPA Tommy Hitchcock Memorial 12-goal this past spring.
It should be noted that Winfield was named for Willie’s maternal grandfather. It is a name that has taken on even more meaning now that the newest addition to the Hartnett family – Willy and wife Katy’s infant son – was named Winfield (affectionately shortened to “Win”).
Before long, young Win may be picking up a mallet of his own. And, in doing so, he will certainly have his father’s and grandfather’s legacy there to guide him in this obviously strong, generation-togeneration, family tradition.
