POLO SCENE
N E W S • NO T E S • T R E N D S • Q U O T E S
THANKS FORHEAD THE MEMORIES Danny Scheraga Subhead retires after three decades
DANNY SCHERAGA, executive director of the Polo Training Foundation, recently announced his retirement. Scheraga as been with the PTF for 34 years. He was replaced by Jennifer McLeavy at the PTF board meeting last month. Scheraga began his career coaching at Cornell, followed by 10 years teaching clinics and running the I/I program for the USPA, a position then funded by the PTF. In 1996, Scheraga was hired as PTF executive director to help the organization become more active in fundraising to enhance the quality and quantity of instruction nationally. “My life has been helping young players evolve as players and hopefully mature into adults, contributing to both polo and society in genDanny Scheraga eral,” Scheraga said. An amalgam of ideas from many sources, including Scheraga, has gone into developing programs to improve instruction. A few examples were an expanded I/I tournament program, more clinics, cosponsoring specific annual clinics and running a polo center at Brushy Creek for 10 years. More recently, an annual college fair was created for college-bound students to meet polo coaches from across the country. Throughout it all, the PTF has stayed fiscally solvent and the endowment has grown. “I could not have accomplished any of this without a great board of directors and an army of volunteers, many of whom were my mentors, that helped keep all the PTF programs running and had a commitment to the future of polo,” explained Scheraga. In the last few years, a National Junior Board was created to accumulate ideas from the PTF’s main constituents—polo youth. “They have been fantastic to work with and come up with some amazing ideas. I am truly touched by their support of and loyalty to the PTF,” said Scheraga. “It has been a thrill to watch young players grow. I have watched some of them as young players become successful in business and in professions from doctors and lawyers to professional players and instructors. I’ve also seen some players I first taught as adults and watched their children learn and now their grandchildren are playing.” Just this past February, the PTF held the Tackeria President’s Day Cup for youth 16 and older, and The Avendano Memorial for players 15 and under in Wellington, Florida. The events attracted 85 players, representing a resurgence in participation. Several children of participants from decades ago are now participating in PTF events and some are even helping to run the programs. There has also been a resurgence of participation in PTF events on the West Coast. Additionally, the PTF supports many annual clinics across the country, as well as international exchanges, which, on hold due to Covid-19, will resume soon. During Scheraga’s tenure, he served nine PTF chairmen, including George Haas, George Alexander Jr., Dan Colhoun Jr., Jesse Upchurch, Karlene Beal Garber, Orrin Ingram, Gene Burk, Ian Angus and Dick “Remo” Reimenschneider, who also retired at the board meeting last month. “Remo has been wonderful to work with and his tireless efforts helped to refocus the PTF, making it better prepared to meet current and future demands,” said Scheraga. “I wish I had room to mention
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