The Polo Report
By Steve Crowder

Two lions overlooking field #3 at Empire.

Both Empire Polo Club and Eldorado PC had opening weekends this past weekend.  I’m not sure about opening night at Eldo, but I stopped by Empire Polo’s Blue & White Bash and it was absolutely amazing.  In a royal setting of tents, bonfires and some amazing food prepared by Carlos Cremaschi  (a Traditional Argentine Asado). It was unreal with 600 pounds of tender beef, a couple hundred pounds of ribs and 100 or so pounds of Salmon all for about 400 + people. It was AWESOME.  The party took place in a gorgeous setting under the lions. It was all Al and Alex-style  and simply superb. If the other side had a good crowd I would say polo is coming back to the desert in style. There was a lot of whooping and hollerin,g not sure if it was really a small Earthquake or just the party crowd.The Roar is defintley back on that side of the silly fence so hopefully we are on a better road for 2012.  It sure would be nice it that was the case.

I was surprised to see so much media at Empire this past weekend.  In Palm Beach-style there were cameras, media vans and even a helicopter  providing tours to the media.  Lets hope it is working as the setting is perfect and maybe the secret is out there for polo in the desert again.

Both Clubs had opening Sunday games, but I had to leave before so not sure of turn.  The weather was absolutely perfect for polo anywhere. Empire has changed their main Field to # 1 and it is a picture perfect setting. I think even more glamorous than IPC in Wellington, FL. All I can say is it will be the “place to be” every Sunday afternoon. You can even watch the NFL playoffs between chukkars and the ladies can catch up on the style of the moment.

There seems to be some old faces showing back up in the desert so maybe that’s a good sign that the worst is over. Let’s hope so and forward we go. I think we will see some action across the board in Indio at both clubs, but we have to keep in mind feuding rarely cures anything and polo must grow to make it healthy again. The new people are the key. Leave it be and let them make a choice. They do not want to be involved in the past and if you drag them there they will simply disappear. THAT IS WHAT POLO DOES NOT NEED. I have been around Polo for 4 decades and I have seen the wars of Tulsa, Dallas, Chicago, New York and Florida and the truth is polo Lost each time and in some cases forever,  but it can grow with level heads and a simple thing called COMMON SENSE.

International Polo Club in Palm Beach explodes this weekend with JOE BARRY 20-goal and 13 teams with a lot of desert rats down there  including Nick Morrision, Fred and Julian Mannix, Bob and Robert Jornayvaz, Jason Crowder, Joe Stuart, Mariano Gonzalez,  Carlos and Nick Galindo and many more. The ERG gang and San Saba this might make you think as well. WHY????

SEE YA