THE POLO CLASSIC

Over the weekend I organized a group of friends to attend the 28th Annual Polo Classic, sponsored by Polo For Philanthropy, and held at the Twin City Polo Club field.

                                 (DiGregorio)

The Opening Parade.

                                 (DiGregorio)

                                 (DiGregorio)

                                 (DiGregorio)

Last year my friend Art and I went for the first time, and I absolutely loved it, so when it came time for the Classic this year, I set about getting a group of friends together to attend.

The Polo Gang!

                                 (Bartosik)

                                 (Bartosik)

                                 (DiGregorio)

                                 (Bartosik)

Fun with hats.

                                (Bartosik)

                                 (Bartosik)

We're not judging. Really!

The idea of playing polo in Minneapolis might seem strange to some of you, but actually we have been playing polo here for almost 100 years. It all began in the mid 1920's, with the Fort Snelling Polo Club. From then on, the home site has shifted to several locations, before settling on its current site in Maple Plain, in 1964.

                                 (DiGregorio)

The Classic is very dog friendly, and the dogs ranged from large . . . 

. . . To small.

                                             (DiGregorio)

                                             (DiGregorio)

Puppy in a purse.

Although Polo's roots go back to 500 B.C. in Persia, the game eventually found its way to India, where it was discovered by the British military, who brought the sport back to England, and refined its rules. It was in England that James Gordon Bennett, the publisher of the New York Herald, was introduced to the sport.

This 1929 Packard was by far my favorite classic car.

                                 (DiGregorio)

                                 (DiGregorio)

                                 (DiGregorio)

                                 (DiGregorio)

Clearly, the DeLorean was the most popular car with our group.

                                  (Bartosik)

                                 (Bartosik)

                                 (Bartosik)

Bennett brought the sport to the United States, and 1876, he hosted a party for a select group of friends, to introduce them to the "new" game of polo. This eventually lead to the founding of the Westchester Polo Club, in Newport, RI, which is the oldest polo club in the United States.

                                 (Bak)

                                (Bartosik)

                               (Bartosik)

                                (Bartosik)

                                (Bartosik)

                                 (Bartosik)

Joe trying to capture the perfect photo.

According the Newport International Polo Club's webpage, a decade later, polo had become so popular, that Bennett established the Westchester Cup match, and invited those same British Officers to compete in it. Today, this is one of the oldest international sporting events (only the America's Cup yachting championship is older).

                                (Bartosik)

It was great to see Paula (on the right), our tent coordinator again.

                                 (DiGregorio)

                                 (DiGregorio)

                                (Bak)

The famous divot stomping!

                                 (DiGregorio)

                                 (Pardue)

In addition to The Polo Classic, there are public auctions, silent auctions, hat competitions, and a classic car show. Truly something for everyone.

                                             (DiGregorio)

                                (Pardue)

Here's to the Ladies who polo!

                                 (DiGregorio)

                                (Bak)

                                 (Bak)

                                (Bartosik)

The Polo Classic, has definitely become one of my favorite summer events, and it was a lot of fun to introduce my friends to it this year. They loved it, and a great time was had by all!

(Several of my friends have contributed photos for this post, including, Joe Bartosik, Michael Bak, Carla Pardue, and Brian DiGregorio.)


Have you watched polo matches, and if so, where?