The Polo Report
By Steve Crowder
Feb. 13th ’10
It is quite a fitting . . . the team known as the Hawks, who are also brand new to Florida, happen to be from Calgary, in Alberta Canada. The Hawks are in the finals of the 2010 20-goal in Palm Beach at International Polo Club. The Olympics are in their opening weekend in Canada. The weather is nearly the same as well this morning . . . it is 49 degrees in Wellington, FL and 45 degrees in Vancouver, Canada. Now that is not supposed to happen, but it is. They need snow in Vancouver. In the U.S. yesterday it was the first time in recorded history that 49 of the 50 states had snow on the ground. It was Hawaii ,which often does have snow on its mountains, did not have any. Hope you were able to see the Winter Olympic Opening Ceremonies as they were quite spectacular. There was a little too much French at times, but I guess their are 9 competitors from there country and they want to claim Canada, but it was very good just as the Polo should be in West Palm Beach, Florida on Sunday.
I am sure the weather will change, hopefully in both places. In Canada they need the snow and in Florida they would probably be happy with no snow or any cold weather for a while. The Finals of the Ylvisacker will not be cold no matter what happens as the Canadian led Hawks usually, in their Black Jerseys, will have some very downhill speed. The Bolt (Fred Mannix) and Mini Mac (Julian Mannix) can fly. Add a young gun named Cachi Garcia and the legend of days gone by but a hero just 8 weeks ago Mariano Aguerre. Aguerre is rated 10 goals. You have a speed team making their second finals in a month. They lost the last one to the guns of Zacara, but just barely. They play Luchesse, who is a Texas-based team with much more experience and age, but can they deal with the speed? We shall see.
It is great to see the Hawks in the finals as last year they were in the finals in Eldorado Polo Club in 12- and 8-goal leagues. Of course minus a 10-goaler, but Fred Mannix, Jr. is a product of Junior Polo as well as Cachi Garcia and Julian Mannix. It must be great for Senior Fred Mannix as he was a main player in developing Junior Polo and he is the Father of the Bolt and Mini Mac. Fred Mannix, Sr. played for many titles with his famous Fish Creek team. If you want to see a spectacular Polo setting just stop by Calgary and see Mr. Mannix’ amazing Polo field at Chinook Downs. There is no place else like it. It has the Rockies as it’s backstop and deer wandering the hillsides nearby. I think Calgary should be the home of the next World Cup for Polo as it is obvious the Canadians know how to run these events.
Another bit of trivia for you . . . Cachi is the son of Cali Gracida and a Lovely Lady named Miley. Cali was the Director for Palm Beach Polo for a decade or so which was owned by Wild Bill Ylvisaker, who this 20-goal tournament was named after. Just recently, as in the last week, Bill Ylvisaker passed away. He was responsible for making West Palm Beach the polo capital of the World before selling it. Then IPC was born which is now a world class center today. Also some more trivia … just 2 months ago Mariano was on the oldest team to win the Argentine Open Finals in Palermo with both teams rated at 40-goals. Now he may be on the youngest team to win a 20-goal final in Palm Beach.
See ya at the finals and you should probably bring your coat.