Hall of Fame - Jim MacGinley
Jim MacGinley (1941–2017) was one of Australia’s most influential polo players, celebrated for his exceptional horsemanship, attacking style, and decadeslong impact on the sport. Born into a Queensland polo family, he began playing in 1960 and rose rapidly, increasing his handicap by one goal each year for his first five seasons. By the mid1960s he had won most major Australian trophies and became one of the youngest players to represent Queensland.
MacGinley’s international breakthrough came in New Zealand, where he won the Saville Cup five times in six attempts and helped modernise the country’s playing style through faster, more aggressive polo and improved horse quality. In 1970 he moved to the United States, managing clubs across the east and midwest and winning 28 major American titles, including national 8, 10, 14, 16 and 26goal championships, as well as the National Arena Polo Tournament. A career highlight was playing a season alongside Argentine legend Juan Carlos Harriott.
Selected for Australia in 1967, MacGinley represented his country 14 times—captaining 13 of those matches—and became one of the nation’s longestserving captains. He retired as an 8goal player and was an inaugural inductee into the Australian Polo Hall of Fame. He remained a mentor, coach, and horseman until his death in 2017, leaving a legacy as a transformative figure in Australian polo.