PAST HISTORY OF POLO IN KANSAS CITY
For over one hundred years, horse lovers in Johnson County and Kansas City have been gathering regularly to pursue two rather unique recreational activities — polo and foxhunting. Organized foxhunting and polo both got their start locally around the turn of the century. Foxhunting was introduced by a group of Englishmen who came to Kansas City to purchase mules. A few members of the Kansas City Country Club enjoyed the activity so much that they formed the Missouri Hunt and Polo Club in 1895 and built kennels for their hounds. The kennels and clubhouse were located on a farm on the east side of Wornall at 56th Street. Members of this early equestrian club went on to found other similar groups in the Kansas City area, including the American Royal Horse Show and the Mission Valley Hunt Club.
In 1898 the Kansas City Country Club bought land for a polo field between Summit Street and Belleview Street, from 52nd Street to 54th Street. For several years, members of the Kansas City Country Club and the Missouri Hunt and Polo Club pursued their interest in foxhunting and polo.
The Missouri Hunt and polo Club disbanded in 1911. Sixteen years later, Ralph LeRoy Nafziger organized a new club, the Mission Valley Hunt Club. The Mission Valley Clubhouse, kennels, and polo fields were located in Johnson County, at 83rd and Mission Road. The property adjoined the Nafziger farm. The first hunt was held in March 1927, with Mr. Nafziger as Master of Fox Hounds.
Former Kansas City members include the Kempers who donated land for polo fields to Jackson County for the outdoor polo matches on 151st Street and Holmes Road, Ben Benjamin and Hal Oppenheimer. The most recent rejuvenation of the Kansas City Polo Club began after the club from the eighties and nineties, playing only grass polo allowed the membership to decline through attrition and relocation with no lesson program. There is currently a lesson program starting in October and interested persons are invited to call Bob Arnold at 816.550.9335 for more information
For over one hundred years, horse lovers in Johnson County and Kansas City have been gathering regularly to pursue two rather unique recreational activities — polo and foxhunting. Organized foxhunting and polo both got their start locally around the turn of the century. Foxhunting was introduced by a group of Englishmen who came to Kansas City to purchase mules. A few members of the Kansas City Country Club enjoyed the activity so much that they formed the Missouri Hunt and Polo Club in 1895 and built kennels for their hounds. The kennels and clubhouse were located on a farm on the east side of Wornall at 56th Street. Members of this early equestrian club went on to found other similar groups in the Kansas City area, including the American Royal Horse Show and the Mission Valley Hunt Club.
In 1898 the Kansas City Country Club bought land for a polo field between Summit Street and Belleview Street, from 52nd Street to 54th Street. For several years, members of the Kansas City Country Club and the Missouri Hunt and Polo Club pursued their interest in foxhunting and polo.
The Missouri Hunt and polo Club disbanded in 1911. Sixteen years later, Ralph LeRoy Nafziger organized a new club, the Mission Valley Hunt Club. The Mission Valley Clubhouse, kennels, and polo fields were located in Johnson County, at 83rd and Mission Road. The property adjoined the Nafziger farm. The first hunt was held in March 1927, with Mr. Nafziger as Master of Fox Hounds.
Former Kansas City members include the Kempers who donated land for polo fields to Jackson County for the outdoor polo matches on 151st Street and Holmes Road, Ben Benjamin and Hal Oppenheimer. The most recent rejuvenation of the Kansas City Polo Club began after the club from the eighties and nineties, playing only grass polo allowed the membership to decline through attrition and relocation with no lesson program. There is currently a lesson program starting in October and interested persons are invited to call Bob Arnold at 816.550.9335 for more information
POLO “BIGGER THAN BASEBALL”
Beginning in 1898, members of the Kansas City Country Club participated in regular polo matches. During this period, the Missouri Hunt and Polo Club maintained an affiliation with the Kansas City Country Club. The sport of polo grew in popularity for several years, fell into decline during World War I, and reached a pinnacle in the 1920s, when the Country Club had enough players for three or four teams. When not playing rival clubs, the Country Club “Reds” and “Blues” would play each other, while spectators watched from their cars. In the late 1920s, the Country Club built a polo pavilion for fans to use in warm weather. At the height of its popularity, a polo match could draw 5000 spectators in Kansas City. Many thought the game would be “bigger than baseball.”
The growing enthusiasm for polo was a factor when the Kansas City Country Club decided to move to 63rd Street in 1924. During this period, an international match on Long Island attracted 40,000 people. A game in New Delhi, India drew 120,000. The game was certainly thriving. The Club’s directors stated that interest in horseback riding was increasing and that the new Club’s proximity to open country would serve to further stimulate this interest. They also noted that polo was rapidly becoming more popular around the country, and that the game added “greatly to the atmosphere, color and exclusiveness of any club.”
When the Mission Valley Hunt Club was founded in 1927, members formed a polo team, as well as a foxhunting club. Many members of the Mission Valley Club were also members of the Kansas City Country Club, and played on both teams. As the Mission Valley Club grew, several teams were organized, so that members could play each other. The Mission Brook Polo Club and the Somerset Farm team were two of these. Games were played at the Mission Brook Polo Field, at 87th and Mission Road.
Kansas City polo clubs were part of the Northwest Circuit, along with Wichita (which once had seven polo fields), Topeka, and Chicago. Local clubs also played teams from Des Moines, St. Louis, and Ft. Leavenworth. Therefore, local polo players traveled often during the summer playing season.
When asked what went first in a mature polo player, renowned polo player Tommy Hitchcock replied “the money.” With the maintenance of the horses and travel expenses, polo was a very expensive game. First, each player had several horses to purchase and board. Then, not only the players and horses were transported, but also hired help, saddles, bridles, feed buckets, water buckets, hoses, and other equipment. One player, Frank McDermand, commented, “it’s like moving a city.”
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