THE SANTA BARBARA POLO and RACQUET CLUB HOSTS ANNUAL
BOMBARDIER PACIFIC COAST OPEN
Triple Crown of Polo Event Brings Polo’s Elite to Santa Ynez Valley Aug. 23-26
Santa Barbara, Calif. (Aug. 9, 2007) —The world’s most elite High Goal polo teams will converge on the Santa Barbara Polo and Racquet Club, one of the most esteemed clubs in the world and third oldest in the United States, to battle in the second jewel of The Triple Crown of Polo, the prestigious Bombardier Pacific Coast Open (BPCO) Championship, Aug. 23-26. Skilled players from places such as England, Argentina, Australia, and Florida will vie for the coveted BCPO trophy, a prize nearly 100 years old exquisitely crafted by Tiffany and Co. Against the stunning backdrop of the Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean, ESPN-2 will be on-hand to broadcast this thrilling, high-stakes event to an international audience.
One of the top three tournaments held in the United States each year, the BPCO is the highlight of the Santa Barbara polo season. Played since 1904, this event has established itself as one of the oldest and most coveted polo tournaments in the world. Accordingly, the crème de la crème of the polo world will be competing including Argentinean polo superstars Gonzalito Pieres and two-time defending champion Paco De Narvaez, both of whom are rated at 9-goals (10 being highest). Also headlining the tournament is another veteran to the winner’s circle, Memo Gracida of Mexico. Now rated at 8-goals, Memo is a three-time champion at the Bombardier Pacific Coast Open and has won the U.S. Open a record 15 times.
Attendees will range from billionaires such as USC alum and Forbes Top 400 Wealthiest list-member, Thomas Barrack, high-society polo-pony owners—celebrity shoe designer Jimmy Choo has several—to regular Joe’s with a burning polo curiosity. The widespread appeal of the sport is simple—ruggedly handsome players swinging mallets made of fine Argentinean wood atop a gorgeous steed worth a hundred-thousand while charging at each other at precarious speeds, all while gracefully commanding a little ball.
Highlights of this 4-day event are not limited to major polo celebrities in high-pressure matches. Entertainment will take place during the Linfoot Memorial “Family Fun Day” on Saturday, Aug. 25 during which children ages 4-15 can try their hand at the sport for the first time or budding junior players can showcase their talent to established polo athletes. While games are in progress, spectators can participate in half time divot stomping, dine at the club’s signature restaurant—Tinker’s Polo Grill—or shop at the Polo Barn for featured Santa Barbara Polo and Racquet Clubs logo items! The public is invited to enjoy these events free of charge.
This year’s finals will be played on the last day of the tournament, Sunday Aug. 26 at 2 p.m. The entry fee is $10.00 per person. For more information, call (805) 684-6683 or visit The Santa Barbara Polo and Racquet Club website at www.sbpolo.com or the Triple Crown of Polo website at www.triplecrownofpolo.com.