Thomas Hitchcock

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For other uses, see Thomas Hitchcock, Jr..

Thomas Hitchcock (November 23, 1860 - 1941) was one of the leading American polo players during the latter part of the 19th century and a Hall of Fame horse trainer and owner known as the father of American steeplechasing.

A wealthy resident of Long Island, New York, his father had been involved in the newspaper business with Charles Anderson Dana. In 1890, Thomas Hitchcock married Louise "Lulie" Eustis (c.1867-1934) of New Orleans. They had two sons, Tommy Hitchcock, Jr. and Francis C. Eustis Hitchcock.

Thomas Hitchcock was a key figure in developing the sport of polo in the United States. In 1877 he and friend August Belmont, Jr. were part of the group that organized the first ever polo match on Long Island, New York, played on the infield of the Mineola Fair Grounds race track. One of the first 10-goal players in the U.S., Hitchcock's efforts resulted in the 1881 formation of Long Island's Meadowbrook Polo Club. In 1882, he helped an American team defeat England in a Varsity match then in 1886 was voted captain of the United States entry in the first Westchester Cup. A polo player herself, and the founder of the Aiken Preparatory School, Louise Eustis Hitchcock had her sons playing polo as soon as they were old enough to swing a mallet. She also helped family friend Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney to learn the game. Son, Tommy Jr., would become a polo player who is considered by many expert observers as the greatest to have ever played the game.

Thomas Hitchcock and his wife spent a great deal of time at their 3,000 acre estate near Aiken, South Carolina where in 1892 he founded the Palmetto Golf Club. At the time, the city served as a winter playground for many of the country's wealthiest families such the Vanderbilts and the Whitneys. The Hitchcocks built a steeplechase training center on their Aiken property and trained weanlings imported from England. Fond of fox hunting, they also established the Aiken Hounds and in 1916 received official recognition from the Masters of Foxhounds Association of North America. [1]

An owner and trainer of racehorses, in 1895 Thomas Hitchcock began a career that would last for 47 years until his death in 1941. Although he did train horses for flat racing, he built his reputation in steeplechasing. He was the owner or trainer of a number of top horses including the Hall of Fame gelding Good and Plenty with whom he won the 1906 American Grand National. As well, for some of the U.S. international Westchester Cup matches he oversaw the training of the American stable of ponies.

Following its formation, in 1973 Thomas Hitchcock was inducted posthumously in the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame and in 2002 into the Museum of Polo and Hall of Fame.

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  1. ^ Welcome to the Masters of Foxhounds Association of America