Recent Acquisition: Ralla

Aug 8, 2018 - Aug 26, 2018

The National Sporting Library & Museum is pleased to announce its newest addition to the permanent collection, Ralla: Harry Payne Whitney’s Champion Polo Pony, No. 2 by American sculptor Herbert Haseltine (1877-1962). The 1910 bronze is a 1/3 scale size portrait of Whitney’s top polo pony, the Irish-bred chestnut mare Ralla. In 1909, Whitney and Ralla led the American polo team to victory against the English team in the Westchester Cup, now known as the International Polo Cup. The mare was one of Whitney’s favorites and, despite a reputation for being difficult to handle, was a fast and talented mount.

Thanks to funding generously donated by Jacqueline B. Mars, Ralla now joins four other works by Haseltine in the NSLM collection. The sculptures are on view in a special installation in the Museum, August 8 – August 26, 2018.