But it is not all good news as two of Polo’s biggest supporters on both coast fight it out to keep on the right side of the Grass (Bud)Joesph Dardi and Steve Orthwein two monsters in the success of Polo in the USA are both in a bigger battle to keep rolling forward . A little story about them both as I know them . Bud Dardi better know as Mr Mac as in MacDonald’s as he owned several of them with his Daughters in San Fran area was always the backbone when we needed him on the West coast and so damn tough he had a hobby of riding 100 mile endurance races for a hobby when he could not find a polo game . I remember playing with him back in the 80’s and with Jack Oxley in Santa Barbara and we had not lost a game in 6 weeks and he had to set down on Sunday from a broken Jaw so he did not play following Friday and we lost but were still in finals and we were not sure what to do and that night at clubhouse he showed up could not talk much but wrote I will play Sunday and I thought REALLY ! and he showed up sent sub aside and we kicked ass and he just played lights out and never said a word and you know it hurt like heck but that is Bud double tough and they said from Phoenix he had an operation on his back and had a gut blowout and said it was his time but they did not know Bud he is in the saddle and recovering well, he will miss the Rancheros but be at Polo in July . Steve Orthwein is just like Bud a little Younger but tough as they get and without that Family well I do not know where Polo would be in the South Florida world they kept the Gulf stream Polo alive forever and it is sad to say after 90 + years it is now gone they made St Louis a name in Polo and built Polo in Atlanta and Stevie probably has not missed a season for 50 years himself so look forward to seeing him back soon and we hope and pray both of these Polo Icons will be back soon . Around Polo it is getting underway out West Will Rogers starts Saturday with 16 chukkars on one field a very nice idea and Santa Barbara gets underway with 12 goal and Pro Pool and Malanya is working like hell to make it a place to be again. Even Charlie Muldoon is here so you know something is happening on the West Coast . It is easy to see there is no better Weather in the World and yes Houston we have had 20 inches of rain but in the last 4 years not exactly over nite and it is only a two day drive to 2 tournament games a week every week all Summer long . Across the Pond they get started next week with a dozen teams in the Queens Cup or more and yes that is 22 goals and they play in the rain 30 % of the time . It also maybe the best Polo competition in the World today and just think they could be in Santa Barbara and never get wet. Food for thought . Other News I keep hearing is about Polo in Florida after the Season the season is what when Open is over it is just the beginning of Grand Champions for higher rated Polo and it goes till mid June and nearby is very popular club run by Joey Casey former head of Boca Polo called Palm City Polo club
see ya