The Cowboy Who Showed 'Em
Robert Gantwell
May 09, 1977
Cecil Smith, now 73, was a Texas ranch hand when he discovered polo, the millionaires' sport. He invaded that alien world and, with brilliant horsemanship, became the game's best player
"Cecil has the most even temperament of any athlete I've ever known," says John Armstrong. "That temperament, plus his cool approach to any kind of competition, kept him at the top. His greatest contributions have been the training of horses and proving that nice guys don't always finish last." And Cecil and Rube Williams proved something elseāthat polo wasn't a sport only for the wealthy.