‘There’s nothing better’: polo star promotes former racehorses
An international polo star is promoting the versatility of retrained racehorses.
On Monday (23 January) in Lauderdale, Florida, American polo player Nic Roldan met a fellow national star — champion racehorse California Chrome.
He watched California Chrome train before meeting the thoroughbred.
Fellow professional player Kris Kampsen, who specialises in retraining racehorses for polo, was also present.
Nic said there was “no hesitation” when he was given the opportunity to meet California Chrome.
“In the sport of polo a lot of my horses are throughbreds,” he said.
“We’re trying to give horses an ‘afterlife’ when they are done with their career in racing.
Never miss out on the latest happenings in the equestrian world
“The good thoroughbreds in the right size, for me, there’s nothing better.”
Four of Nic’s own string of polo ponies — Tulsa, Ducati, Cohiba and Cubana — are retrained racehorses and he hopes to promote the continued partnership between the two disciplines.
Earlier this month (8 January), Cubana was chosen as the best playing pony in a league game of the Joe Barry Cup at the International Polo Club.
The six-year-old chestnut mare, by City Zip, was bought by Kris as a three-year-old. Kris started playing her at Grand Champions Polo Club, after which Nic bought her.
She played in the 2015 East Coast Open at Greenwich Polo Club and this is her first full Florida high-goal season.
Related articles:
- Polo star ‘blown away’ by recent trip to Guatemala
- Confessions of a horsey couple blog: The polo match
- How does our resident point-to-point jockey fare playing polo?
California Chrome
California Chrome is racing’s all-time leading earner with $14,452,650.
He is a seven-time Grade 1 winner and was the horse of the year in 2014 and 2016.
On Saturday (28 January), California Chrome will make his final start in the $12 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational at Gulfstream Park.
He will then retire to stud at Taylor Made Farm in Kentucky.
Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now
Rachael joined Horse & Hound in 2014, initially as a digital sub editor then became part of the news team as a writer in 2015. The philosophy graduate studied journalism at the Press Association before working as a local reporter at the Brentwood Gazette. Rachael is now a mum of two and still loves all things equestrian, including hacking, dressage and jumping with her cob Bert. Rachael left the H&H staff to go freelance in June 2019, but still contributes to our magazine and website, as well as our sister magazine Country Life, among others.