LANCASTER POLO CLUB

THE OLDEST TEAM SPORT HAS A LONG HISTORY IN LANCASTER COUNTY.

FOUR LANCASTER COUNTY CATTLE DEALERS FOUNDED THE LANCASTER POLO ASSOCIATION IN 1940. BEN FORNEY, LORIN CLARK, JOHN DUNLAP AND JACK HALLMAN, CHALLENGED TO A POLO GAME BY A TEAM FROM YORK NEW SALEM, BOUGHT MALLETS AND HELMETS, ENLISTED THE COACHING SERVICES OF CHARLES LITTLE AND PRACTICED AT THE OLD LANCASTER FAIRGROUNDS. MUCH TO THEIR SURPRISE, THEY WON THE FIRST MATCH-AND SUNDAYS IN LANCASTER WERE NEVER AGAIN QUITE THE SAME.THE GROUP CONTINUED PLAYING AT WHAT IS NOW OVERLOOK GOLF COURSE OFF ROUTE 501 BETWEEN LANCASTER AND NEFFSVILLE. WHEN PLANS FOR A HOUSING DEVELOPMENT USURPED THE PLAYING FIELD,

BEN FORNEY BUILT A FIELD ON HIS FARM IN ROTHSVILLE IN 1956. FORNEY KEPT DOZENS OF POLO PONIES, MANY RESCUED FROM THE NEW HOLLAND AUCTION-ENOUGH TO MOUNT HIS OWN AND VISITING TEAMS. MANY CURRENT LANCASTER POLO PLAYERS GOT THEIR START IN THE GAME BY GROOMING FOR OR LEASING ONE OF FORNEY'S TRIED AND TRUE MOUNTS.OVER THE YEARS FORNEY FIELD HOSTED TEAMS FROM THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, CANADA, CALIFORNIA, TEXAS, AND THE ENTIRE EASTERN SEABOARD.

FORNEY WAS TRULY DEDICATED TO AND LOVED THE SPORT OF POLO. HE CONTINUED TO PLAY POLO WELL INTO HIS EIGHTIES AND WAS FEATURED IN SPORTS ILLUSTRATED AS AMERICA'S OLDEST ACTIVE POLO PLAYER. WHEN FORNEY DIED IN 1988 AT AGE 84, PART OF HIS FARM WAS SOLD FOR DEVELOPMENT AND THE DAYS OF DOZENS OF ON-SITE POLO PONIES ENDED. BUT THE FIELD REMAINED AND POLO CONTINUES ON.

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