WELLINGTON, Fla., October 31, 2024----The fifth medium goal tournament of the fall season begins Friday at Grand Champions Polo Club and Santa Rita Polo Farm.
By Sharon Robb
The Fall Plates opens 3 p.m. at Grand Champions Polo Club's Field 3 with Grand Champions (Miles Rich, Grant Ganzi, 3, Pablo Dorignac, 4, Martin Jauregui, 6) playing Santa Rita (Rebecca Cohen, Juan Bollini, 3, Nic Roldan, 8, Jony Castillo).
Action moves to Santa Rita Polo Farm's Aspen Field at 4:30 p.m. with SebiLion (Sebastian Mandelbaum, Leo Mandelbaum, 2, Dominic State, 2, Tomacho Pieres, 6) facing Newport (Gene Goldstein, Santos Bollini, 2, Jason Crowder, 5, Sugar Erskine, 6).
The winners advance into Sunday morning's final.
The best news for polo players, trainers, grooms, fans and horses will have an extra hour to sleep in before heading out for the games. Daylight Saving Time ends 2 a.m. on Sunday when the clock will "fall back" and now the morning commute will have more daylight.
In last year's final, Amaro (Kevin Schmeits, Scott Sorbaro, Pedro Gutierrez, 5, Pablo Dorignac, 4) defeated Victory (Becky Schmeits, Patricio Paz, 2, Govinda Quish, Martin Jauregui, 6), 8-4, and La Fe/Dazos (David Farache, Santos Bollini, 2, Sugar Erskine, 6, Louis Devaleix, 2), 7-5, in the round robin final. Victory defeated La Fe/Dazos, 7-6, in the other game. It was Amaro's second win of the season. Sorbaro was MVP.
The nation's largest and most innovative polo club, celebrates its 18th anniversary with two new additions to the fall schedule: Nov. 14 WPL Pride Polo Miami and Nov. 15-17 Beach Polo World Cup Miami. It's the first time the popular beach polo tournament and WPL Pride Polo are being held in the fall on South Beach. The Beach Polo World Cup Miami Beach is the largest and most notable Beach Polo event in the world. It features international teams and over 120 horses. Tickets are on sale.
Grand Champions is hosting both medium and high goal tournaments this season.
The family-friendly club welcomes spectators of all ages. All matches, food and refreshments are free (with the exception of special catered events) and open to the public and dogs on leashes.
Among the season's other highlights are the Nov. 23 doubleheader featuring the Legends of Polo Carlos Gracida Memorial and International Cup with GCPC USA playing the Rest of the World this year. In last year's International Cup, Spain knocked off previously unbeaten GCPC USA to snap its 11-year win streak in front of a packed house at Santa Rita Polo Farm.
The fall medium goal schedule features six tournaments and has one more remaining after Fall Plates. It is the Nov. 6-10 Casablanca Fall Cup.
Wellington-based ChukkerTV (CTV Sports) is live streaming the entire fall season worldwide. Grand Champions is the only USPA club that is live streaming all its games.
The Grand Champions Fall Invitational League is geared toward improving a player's polo skills at every level.
Roster lineups change from tournament to tournament with evenly-matched teams featuring pro and amateur players. It's also a great opportunity for players and sponsors to prepare for the winter season highlighted by the 26-goal World Polo League, now entering its seventh season at Grand Champions.
The fall league features: stick-and-ball sessions during the week; two medium tournament games every weekend; ambulance and USPA umpires for all tournament games; world-class polo fields; club-sponsored social events every weekend for all players; and top-of-the-line trophies for all teams every weekend.
Grand Champions and Santa Rita Polo Farm is the largest and most unique private 102-acre polo facility in Wellington with 212 stalls in nine self-contained barns, two tracks, five climate-controlled tack rooms, vet room, staff quarters, guest house and four polo fields with state-of-the-art underground irrigation and short work arena. The club has 11 well-manicured world-class fields at GCPC and Santa Rita.
Grand Champions Polo Club caters to men, women and youth polo players at all levels. Its' expert staff can customize a complete playing experience including horses, pros and certified umpires in addition to lessons and practice sessions as part of its' Polo On Demand program.
The Polo School is for all ages and ability levels and operates in Wellington year-round. The Polo School, a 501c3 organization and stand-alone USPA club, is dedicated to teaching polo to all ages, particularly grass roots youth. Its mission is to provide individuals opportunities in polo at every economic and ability level. The Polo School operates year-round in Wellington. For more information on the Fall Leagues or Polo School contact Cale Newman at 561-876-2930.