The Polo Report
By Steve Crowder
I drove down to the Desert on Saturday morning. It was a picture perfect day and much more exciting than a couple weeks earlier with the EHV-1 problem . A 21-day break in the cooler part of the season did wonders for the fields. David Nolasco and Vicente Villa have the Empire fields looking like they do in the Fall, absolutely perfect. The polo seems to be playing extra fast as a couple of 4-goal games and a 10- goal had players and horses flying on the pristine fields. Next door at El dorado it also looked better than normal field-wise. I am sure it is due to warm weather and the break to get the Bermuda going. Eldorado is not as lush as Empire, but definitely better than normal on north side of ave 51. Seemed to be a lot of action at both clubs on Sunday, even though it was a bit windy late in the morning.
A huge crowd was gathering at Empire for the main game and El Dorado also seemed to have a very good crowd. Polo is looking up in the Desert.
Some exciting news … the return of the Canadians. General Lee (Lee Pettigrew) is back in action after several years of polishing Mecarri trophies in the snow. Rumor is confirmed that Ron and Rocky Mountain ranch will be here in March. I saw a big upset as General Lee and Empire shut down the undefeated Casa Sombres and the Flying Conrad Kissling, who is 11 years old. He still managed to score on several plays as he is overtaking Pop (Bolkdo) pretty fast. Somethings have not changed as the Fast-Etta (Mariano Fassetta) is still smokin’ the fields. He had a couple victories at both clubs. Smokin’ Joe Henderson is still pounding the ball toward the posts that make the flags fly.
All in all I think it is worth a trip to see the desert as it may soon be back in favor. With the movement at Empire it may become “Palm Beach Polo West” but with a better looking club than IPC and it is 3000 miles closer to here.
The trouble is IPC is where the action is.
The west coast is well represented in Florida right now. Santi Torres and Jason Crowder went that far to play each other in the Semis of the 20-goal Ylvisacker Cup featuring 16 teams. Jason and the Piaget team out lasted Luchesse and Santi. They head to the finals Sunday against Marc Ganzi’s Audi. Fred Mannix 2, Jeff Hall, Jason Crowder are all part of the original Pee Wee Polo Team at El Dorado. It was headed up by the late Art Cameron and Joe Barry.
The really big boys got into action over the weekend as the first 26-goal also got going at IPC in the Whitney Cup. The Mannix Boys are involved in this one as both Julian and Fred 2 are on the move at a high-rate of speed and they will need it as most of the world’s 10-goal players will be there if not all of them.
see ya @ POLO