Lovely Sage

As beautiful as her name would imply, the attributes of Lovely Sage did not stop at that. She possessed a rare combination of speed, dexterity and wonderful disposition. Lovely Sage made history as the first winner of the Willis Hartman Award to recognize the Best Playing Pony of the U.S. Open Tournament established in 1965 when it was given to the best horse throughout the entire tournament, not just playing in the final.

Dr. Linfoot with Lovely Sage, winner of the Polo Pony Performance class, and presenter, Carol Oxley

A papered Thoroughbred mare foaled in 1957 (by Barval out of Parsage), one can only speculate on how she made her way into a backyard in Modesto, California where she was found by Fay Humphries, a polo playing cowboy with a true horseman’s eye for good ponies. From there she went on to Hall of Famer Dr. William “Billy” Linfoot who sold her to Ruddy Tongg, a Hawaiian businessman and polo player. Tongg was also the owner of the Santa Barbara Polo Club. Linfoot played her as part of the Santa Barbara team and regarded her as his best pony in the ’65 Open when she won the inaugural Hartman Award. When Ruddy had a polo accident that ended his playing days, he sold his horses, and Lovely Sage was purchased by Hap Sharp. The mare was part of the string he sent to Argentina to represent the U.S. in the Cup of the Americas in 1969. Sharp’s son-in-law, famed horseman and Hall of Famer Tommy Wayman, had played Lovely Sage and later used her for his breeding program.

Lovely Sage, winner of the light-heavy weight Polo Pony class,

1963 U.S. Open, with Dr. Linfoot

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