Delta Dawn

Delta Dawn was a gray thoroughbred mare trained by Cecil Smith, owned by Norman Brinker, and played by Roy Barry. She was honored with the Hartman Award as Best Playing Pony in the 1974 U.S. Open. Brinker recalled, “She had wonderful attitude, determination and speed. When Roy got on her, I knew good things were going to happen.”

Norman Brinker bought Delta Dawn from Cecil Smith as a 4-year-old in 1973. Smith noted, “She was just a ranch horse I bought in the Hill Country, but she showed natural ability right from the start. You just knew she was going to be a great one.”

She was trained by Cecil Smith and first played under Charles Smith. Her new rider, Roy Barry, renamed her after a song that was then popular. She was generally sent out in a double bridle, and played one period toward the end of the game.

In 1978, Delta Dawn had surgery on both knees, and doctors said she would never play again. But, as one writer noted, when the doctors looked at her knees, they forgot to consider her spirit. Delta Dawn indeed played again, including an appearance in the 1980 U.S. Open Championship match, before retiring from polo at the age of 12.

After her playing days were over, Delta Dawn passed on her spirit through breeding. “She had some incredible colts,” Brinker said. Delta’s manners, however, left something to be desired. She would bite and kick at feeding time and was described as “crotchety” because she didn’t like to be handled. Being a top pony, she tended to have a tough personality.

Roy Barry snd Delta Dawn

Watercolor portrait of Delta Dawn (Top Photo) by artist, Melinda Brewer; www.poloart.ca