The Polo Report
By Steve Crowder

SPOKANE POLO CLUB started around 1950. It is the heart of the North West on the South side of the border and Calgary is on the North side. A man probably most resposible for Polo in Spokane, PETE DIX, was as tough as his job … steel work.  Dix had his say about what he wanted and probably got it. The first time I met him was as they rolled into Tulsa, OK in a semi loaded with horses.  I think it was a cattle trailer with no roof. They had some very rugged horses, but were very competitive. They may have even won the tournament.

Pete had two sons Pat and Pete, Jr.  and they were extremely good athletes as well as polo players. Pat reached 6 outdoors from what I can remember and was higher rated indoor.  Pete well he made it to 4, but did not get time off as it was a busy time.  They were two of the nicest guys to ever play polo and both were soft spoken and genuinely nice people. They took after their Mother I am sure. They had a Sister named Suzy, who was much more like Big Pete in attiude and was also a brilliant athlete on and off the polo field.  All three also raised more polo players, who played,  but never went far from the working world. Travis was the best and played the most polo.  Mike and Kevin as well as Eric wandered down to CA and did well too.  Suzy has 2 polo players as well … Cody and Catlin. So you can see the family tree has polo all over it and that is the main reason Spokane Polo is still there.

They have had some very good polo players in that area, but for some reason they just do not leave for too long.  I guess it just is too nice a place to leave.  The Club there is about to have the PETE DIX MEMORIAL this week, so I am sure someone will have to cross the road at the Longhorn and have one in memory of Pete Sr. Another Wild Man from there was Ken Fransen, who was a friend and competitor of the Dix Boys and Bill George. Also out of the older area, was a man from Yakima Harry Kent and a Doctor who raised really good horses.  The Club has two or 3 fields.  I know two are very, very good as well and the place is usually green and surounded by water and trees on little hills leading to the big ones on both sides. They expect big crowds again this weekend as it is lined-up with 52 players participating and nearly 300 horses. So come see those Ponies run in the Spokane Valley. For more info this seems like lead man there John Babin 509 939 9259 or babin72@sullivanbabin.com.

see ya