The United States Polo Association is saddened to announce the passing of longtime member and polo player, Bob Daniels, as a result of injuries sustained from an accident while playing polo. A member of the USPA since 1981, he proudly served on the High Goal Committee from 2011 through 2014, as well as the USPA Umpires, LLC Board from 2012 through the present.
“Everyone at the U.S. Polo Association and our entire polo community is deeply saddened by the passing of Bob Daniels, one of our sport’s most prominent and dedicated players and an avid supporter of our Association. Bob was a true advocate for polo and a staple in the game he loved. He will be deeply missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and loved ones,” stated Duncan Huyler, CEO, United States Polo Association.
Daniels was a staple in the polo community, both on and off the field. He spent 16 consecutive years (1996-2011) competing in the USPA’s U.S. Open Polo Championship with Pony Express, making it to the finals at Palm Beach Polo & Country Club in 1999, where his horse, Lupe was also honored with the Willis L. Hartman Trophy for Best Playing Pony in the U.S. Open. He also competed 16 consecutive years (1983-1998) in the East Coast Open, capturing the title at Myopia Hunt Club in 1988 with a 6-5 win over Excalibur, alongside his teammates Raul Roldan, Gonzalo Heguy and Segundo Ortiz.
Additional accolades from Daniels career, include:
- Three-time Chairman’s Cup Titles, each notably alongside his son Marc Daniels (1992, 1998, 2012).
- In 1998, he won the C.V. Whitney with teammates Francisco Bensadon, Javier Novillo-Astrada and Miguel Novillo-Astrada at Palm Beach Polo & Country Club, 11-9 over Revlon.
- In 2007, he won the Joe Barry Memorial with teammates Gonzalo Von Wernich, Tomas Goti and Nic Roldan at IPC, 15-9 over New Bridge.
- In 2009, he won the Hall of Fame Cup with teammates Pelon Stirling, Matias Magrini, and Nic Roldan at IPC, 11-10 over Black Watch.
- In 1996, Bob’s horse Silverada was ridden by Gonzalo Heguy for 3 chukkers in the Argentine Open and she was awarded the Copa Lady Susan Townley award for Best Playing Pony, being the first American Thoroughbred to win this prestigious award.
Joe Meyer, Chairman, United States Polo Association, added “Bob was the epitome of a polo gentleman, a caring and loving father, and a long time personal friend. Bob was welcoming to patrons, players, and professionals alike. His farm, Pony Express, was a family farm where many afternoons were spent playing practice chukkers with everyone’s extended family, while also helping those around him to become better players, ranging from beginner all the way up to 10 goal players. His commitment to the sport was an example of how to build the game of polo. He nurtured Nic Roldan from an early age giving him support as he grew.
Bob loved everything about his horses, including their care and the breeding operations. The high goal players can tell you about Bob’s horses especially Lupe and Silverada. Bob bought Silverada off the track and Gonzalo Heguy loved her so much that he took her to Argentina to play in the Open and won Best Playing Pony.
He was one of the early proponents of the USPA’s Umpire LLC Program. In addition, Bob really enjoyed helping the young kids play and enjoy polo and was very supportive of the Junior Polo Program and the Polo Training Foundation. He will be greatly missed by the entire polo community. His love of polo will carry on through the many horses he has bred as well as his sons, who continue to play this great game.”
There will be a Memorial Service followed by an asado at the Pony Express barn in Wellington on Tuesday the 29th of March at 6:30 pm.
Source: https://uspolo.org/
PoloLineTV Bob Daniels Memorial Video