Tracey Woodcock Mactaggart  1963-2009
respectfully submitted by Tom Goodspeed

Tracey was born in Norway on Jan 10, 1963, but then the family moved to Boca Raton, Florida when she was just nine months old. Boca Raton, at that very time in history was this country’s International Mecca for the sport of polo. A possible foreshadowing of what would one day become one of Tracey’s passions in her adult life.

Tracey with Philip, Ian (on the horse) and Dagny.

Polo may have been in the cards, but horses were in her young heart as she began her riding career at the age of 10. Her Father, Warren Woodcock, a world-class tennis player traded tennis lessons for his young daughter’s riding lessons with hunter/jumper trainer Lynn Cox.

Tracey attended St Andrew’s School in Boca Raton Florida and then went onto to Babson in Mass. for college. Tracey & Philip met each other at a Millbrook party late in the summer of 1995. Philip attended that party uninvited and unsuspecting that he would be meeting the woman who would steal his heart.

Polo Challenge 2008 Photographs by Mary Bridgman, Courtesy of Chisholm Gallery

Philip already had a beautiful young daughter, Ali, now age 12. Philip and Tracey went on to have Ian, now 10 yrs of age & Dagny, 8 yrs of age. Dagny was named after Tracey’s mother. Young Dagny’s grandmother was Hawk Hill’s head cheerleader whenever Philip & Tracey were both on the field together. Tracey’s first passion was her family, followed by her lifelong love of horses. Tracey’s equestrian path was held to the world of hunters and jumpers until just three years ago when she and Philip were introduced to polo in 2006. Close friends of the Mactaggarts offered their polo professional to help guide Philip and Tracey into the sport. The couple was quickly taken in by a game that offers such unexplainable thrills to those that have not galloped across an open field on horseback. Outside of the love and pride of family, there is no better high that one can find in this world. That special bond between horse and rider as they take the field of battle is an experience that roots itself back to Persia B.C.

Tracey when she was first starting polo.

Philip and Tracey naturally decided to play under the colors of their Farm, Hawk Hill and put together their own entry for the upcoming 2007 season at the Mashomack Polo Club in Pine Plains, NY. Outside of a small local feud with Heathcote Farm down the road over the conflicting colors of crest, Hawk Hill’s entry was a force to be reckoned with. This was evidenced by their incredible success that they enjoyed in their very first season of competition at the club. The combined efforts of the Mactaggarts’ Hawk Hill and the Klopp’s Smithfield Farm totally dominated both the 4 goal and 8 goal levels of play throughout that entire summer. If Tracey wasn’t mounted with the team, she was pacing up and down the sidelines offering her vocal support of Hawk Hill, as she did this past summer when Hawk Hill battled thru the USPA Eddie Moore, only to be edged out in the championship finals.
Young son Ian found some consolation in that his Mom passed doing something she loved to do……galloping on the back of a horse.

Tracey and Philip with Ernie Ezcurra and Maxi Menini.

Off the field, Tracey was a dedicated loving mother. Her strongest attribute was said to be that of her skill of organization and getting things done. In fact, daughter Dagny found a strand of gold lining on this very dark cloud that holds over the family. Dagny pronounced, “That at least by the time we get to heaven, Mom will have everything well organized”.
And you can bet that Mom will do exactly that and be there at that gate with arms opened wide, very possibly sitting up on her favorite pony.

Polo Challenge 2008 Photographs by Mary Bridgman, Courtesy of Chisholm Gallery.

Tracey was always willing to help others and she continues to do so in her passing. The family is asking for all of us to give thought and support to how we can all support others, even in our passing, especially in our passing, thru organ donation. Tracey’s commitment to this cause will gift the gift of life to others. More information as to how we can all help can be found on the following link:

http://www.donatelife.net

Did you know that …..

• 90% of Americans say they support donation, but only 30% know the essential steps to take to be a donor.

Polo Challenge 2008 Photographs by Mary Bridgman, Courtesy of Chisholm Gallery