NEWS

Benito T. “Bennie” Gutierrez passed away July 25, in Sebring, Florida, at the age of 88. Gutierrez was born in San Antonio, Texas, in October 1935. He learned to ride and play from his father, who worked for polo families, such as the Hartmans and Beveridges.

His first major polo victory came in 1960 when he won the Twenty Goal with the Royal Palm team, which included Bert and Bobby Beveridge and Ray Harrington. He won the tournament again in 1967 with Milwaukee (Walter Harden, Chico Barry, Robert Uihlein II). That same year, he won the Sixteen Goal (now called the America Cup) with St. Louis’ Adolphus, Peter and Stephen Orthwein.

Gutierrez earned an 8-goal handicap in 1968. The following year, he represented the U.S. in the Cup of Americas. He went on to win the Sixteen Goal with Tulsa (James Sharp, John Oxley, Jack Oxley) in 1969 and with Milwaukee (Robin Uihlein, Tommy Wayman, Billy Wayman) in 1971. The following year, the same Milwaukee team won the U.S. Open Polo Championship.

His high-goal playing career was cut short by a serious polo accident at Royal Palm Polo Club in Boca Raton, Florida. After recovering, he won numerous low- and medium-goal events, including the 1976 Delegates Cup with Mallet Hill’s Fred, Gene and Paul Fortugno. Gutierrez was an exceptional horseman. After retiring from professional polo, he continued to train polo ponies and managed high-goal polo teams, including working with Guillermo “Memo” Gracida.

Gutierrez was featured on product labels for Polo Ralph Lauren and the original Polo Ralph Lauren logo, still seen on their shirts, is based on a photo of Gutierrez. His family says it was taken from an image in a video shot in Connecticut and he received royalties from the image throughout his life.

He was head umpire of the USPA’s professional umpire program in its early days. In 1993, the Polo Training Foundation (PTF) honored him with the Carlton Beal Umpire Award. Former professional player Red Armour, who worked with Gutierrez in the umpire program, wrote in a 1994 article, “As umpires, Benny Gutierrez and I decided that if we were going to have an impact on the game several things had to be done: we would no longer tolerate or communicate with any abusive player, and we would do away with the from-the-spot penalty for minor infractions. Our motto became: if you foul, your team will be penalized.

Gutierrez was inducted into the Museum of Polo and Hall of Fame in 2003. Outside of polo his biggest interest was his grandchildren. His son Mark Gutierrez wrote, “As busy as he was, he always made time for his family.”

Gutierrez is survived by his wife Kay Gutierrez; son Mark Gutierrez (Rebecca); daughter Julie Collins (Rusty); grandchildren Ash Gutierrez, Joshua Collins (Alexandra) and Amanda Hill (Tim); great-grandson Archer; and brother Mike Gutierrez. He was predeceased by his brothers Fred, Rudie and Willie Gutierrez.