Having a Ball

by Robert Cook

As it has been for the past four decades and counting, the Myopia Polo Club Ball is the social event of the season for members of the equestrian community. And Tracy Strouss is once again making sure this event doesn’t disappoint club members and their families. She is the wife of Polo Captain David Strouss, and she serves as chairwoman of the Myopia Polo Ball.

This year’s gala will be held on July 8 at the Myopia Polo Club House. The order of the day are tuxes and equestrian formal wear for the men and elegant ball gowns and evening dresses for the women. The event gives everyone who has spent the season competing head-to-head on the polo field a chance to come together and celebrate, which is something everyone appreciates post-pandemic.

Strouss quips planning the ball is always a challenge. “I try to be creative. It’s the size of a wedding, but with the budget of a birthday party.”

When it all comes together, she says, it’s all worth it. “People look forward to it. It’s a tradition. We try to make it elegant and formal, but there are young kids and players who really make the dance floor come alive.”

“On the field, the thrill of playing in a match is equally enjoyed by all the players, regardless of victory or defeat. The thrill of the Polo Ball is all the players share the same goal, and that’s to have a great time.”

Tracy Strouss took over the organization of the Polo Ball in 2018 and has endeavored to continue growing the event following its cancellation in 2020 due to the pandemic.

While the exact date of the first Myopia Polo Ball is something of a mystery, there’s no question that it was the brainchild of Donald V. Little, a former Myopia Polo Captain (1968–1981, 1983–1986).

At a club known for the cherished traditions it has developed in the past 134 years, the Polo Ball, at more than 40 years old, is still a relatively new event. According to Little’s son, Donald V. “Doo” Little Jr., the first polo balls were typically held the night before the East Coast Open, and they were lively evenings from the very beginning.

“The tables had teams intermingled for the camaraderie and sportsmanship that polo always displayed,” says Little. “It was also a big social event, as the dance was open to the socialites of Boston. It was a highlight in Bostonians’ summer schedule.”

From March on, Tracy Strouss devotes a great deal of her time to making the annual gala happen.

“I secure the event date in early March, followed by designing the save-the-date invitations and securing the band in April,” she says. This year Tracy’s creative challenge is to incorporate new trends and maintain this historical event’s traditions.

Like a summer wedding with an outdoor and indoor space, polo ball guests can enjoy cocktails alfresco before they sit down to a formal dinner that is followed by joyful energy on the dance floor. A live band performs the music for the evening.

“It has a nice balance,” explains Tracy Strouss. “The easiest thing to do is not have a polo ball because of cost and expense, but it is important to me to keep this tradition going and make this investment. It is really important to bring everyone together during the polo season.”