Stewart Iglehart

Biography

Stewart Iglehart was one of the greatest American polo players of the twentieth century, a 10-goal player whose career spanned the 1930s through the 1950s and represented the pinnacle of American polo's international standing. His name is synonymous with the era when the United States could field teams capable of challenging and defeating the best players Argentina and Britain could offer.\n\nIglehart reached the 10-goal handicap — the sport's maximum, reserved for a handful of transcendent players in any era — and sustained it through years of brilliant performance in international competition. He was a key figure in the American teams that competed in the Westchester Cup, the historic challenge trophy played between the United States and Britain.\n\nA powerful striker and instinctive reader of the game, Iglehart combined raw athleticism with a tactical intelligence that made him dangerous in any position. His horsemanship was exceptional — he worked closely with his ponies and was known for the quality of his string.\n\nIglehart's legacy extends beyond his playing achievements. He was a generous teacher and mentor to younger American players, helping sustain the pipeline of talent that kept American polo competitive during the 1940s and 1950s.

Career Highlights

From Wikipedia (retrieved 2026-07-05): Stewart Birrell Iglehart was a rancher, ice hockey and polo player. He was born in Valparaíso, Chile but moved to the United States at a young age. As a child he learned to play both ice hockey and polo. While in prep school he was offered a professional ice hockey contract but declined. Following prep school he attended Yale University, where he continued to play ice hockey and polo. He became one of the best defensemen in college hockey and was selected to play in two different Winter Olympics. Iglehart did not attend either. In 1933 he played for Team USA at the World Ice Hockey Championships, winning a gold medal. Following the tournament he continued to play amateur hockey, but quit to concentrate on polo.

Clubs & Teams