Jupiter

Played by Canadian-born, Argentine-raised 10-goaler Lewis Lacey in the 1928 Cup of the Americas, this chestnut pony impressed everyone with his skill and stamina over multiple chukkers. Jupiter was a quality pony, but with a difficult disposition, and it was only Lacey’s consummate horsemanship that brought out his best.

With Lacey, Jupiter played in the national polo championships of Argentina, Spain, England and the U.S.A., and in international games for Argentina against England and the U.S.A.

After Jupiter’s 1928 heroics, John Sanford offered $22,000 for the pony, an unprecedented sum for the time, buying the horse for his son, Laddie Sanford. The staggering purchase price (and Lacey’s skill in handling him) made Jupiter a famous horse. Cuthbert Bradley (1861-1943), an English painter of sporting dogs and horses, painted a watercolor portrait of Jupiter with Lacey up, and Jupiter is also shown with Lacey up in a photograph in American Polo (1929) by Newell Bent.

After his sale, Jupiter played under a number of players on Laddie Sanford’s Hurricanes team, and appeared in international games for the U.S.A. against England. After his retirement, he spent the rest of his days on the Sanford farm in Amsterdam, N.Y.

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