Nebraska Sunset

Inducted in 2017, Charles Smith’s great, multi-award winning mare, Nebraska Sunset, was purchased as a 3-year-old from the Norman family in Crawford, Nebraska, and trained by Charles’ father, the great Hall of Famer and renowned horseman, Cecil Smith. The 15.2 chestnut thoroughbred mare (by Rule the West Wind x Omaha’s Princess) was played by Charles for the next decade.

Charles Smith on Nebraska Sunset

Dependable as she was, she never failed him. As a crowning achievement in her notable career, she was the 1980 winner of the Hartman Award for Best Playing Pony of the U.S. Open. Charles also played the mare two periods in the 1979 and 1980 Cup of the Americas games. He noted, “Nebraska Sunset was probably the best all-around horse I ever owned. She had the best combination of speed and agility, very easy and anyone could play her from a beginner to a pro… I can gamble on her, take chances, because she can always get me back into a play.” Nebraska Sunset is remembered by many other great Hall of Famers and horsemen, like Tommy Wayman, as one of the top-notch ponies of her time.

Nebraska Sunset with Charles Smith and his daughter, Jennifer

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