HISTORY

In 1965 Colonel Michael C. Sifton purchased Fox Den Farm in Gormley, which has in time become the headquarters of The Toronto Polo Club, as well as one of the best indoor polo facilities in North America.

An outstanding Canadian in the worlds of business, the military, sports, and countless charitable and volunteer works, Colonel Michael Sifton had a vision to make polo accessible to all by sharing the game he loved. He and his family opened their farm for others to enjoy the sport of polo. He also saw the potential of using polo as a forum for raising money for charity. In 1969 he started the Polo For Heart charity series, which continues to this day to be the highlight of the Toronto Polo Club summer season, and has raised over $6 million dollars for heart and stroke related charities. Colonel Sifton was the President of the Toronto Polo Club up until his death in 1995. His sons, Cliff, Mike and Derek continue the family legacy. Cliff Sifton is the current club president.

HISTORY OF POLO IN TORONTO

Polo in Toronto was played prior to the turn of the century, and then more actively in the 1920’s and 1930’s at Woodbine Racetrack, and at the Armoury on Avenue Road. Polo activity ceased during the war years, but was revived in the late 1950’s when a group of equestrians, including Colonel Michael Sifton, Jim Elder, Tom Gayford, Gary Smellie and Major Kindersley (who had played in Toronto before the war) decided it would be a good arena game to play in the winter months when there were no other equestrian events taking place. They began to play in the arena at the former Sifton Estate, at Bayview and Lawrence. By 1960 the Toronto Polo Club was reinstated with the United States Polo Association. In 1965 the Club relocated to Colonel Michael Sifton’s Fox Den Farm, in Gormley. With the addition of outdoor fields the members could now enjoy summer and winter polo. By 1969 the Club had grown to 40 members.

Today, the Club has doubled in size, and plays out of three different locations - Fox Den Farm, Bancroft Farm and Alliston.