SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – The ponies race down a field the size of three football fields at speeds up to 30 miles per hour.
The players, on horseback, swing their mallets to hit a ball that can travel more than 100 miles per hour.
It’s Saratoga’s most extreme sport since 1898. On Friday, June 15, the Saratoga Polo Association’s 2007 season of face-paced, world-class polo begins at historic Whitney Field, corner of Bloomfield and Denton Roads.
“The speed, the athleticism of the horses and players – all these elements combine to make polo one of the world’s most exciting sports,” said James Rossi, managing partner of the Saratoga Polo Association and Saratoga Polo Catering and Events.
Throughout the season, matches are scheduled every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday through Labor Day. Gates open at 4 p.m. and matches start at 5:30 p.m. (weather and field conditions permitting).
“Polo is a sport everyone can enjoy – even the family dog,” Mr. Rossi said.
Saratoga Polo offers two options for watching a match.
General admission to Saratoga Polo is “a more relaxed setting, like a summer gathering with your family, friends and even your dog,” Mr. Rossi said. General admission is $20 per carload or $10 per person and tailgate picnics are welcomed. For those arriving by foot or bicycle, admission is $5 per person.
VIP Clubhouse admission is $20 per person and patrons dress as they might for a day at the racetrack. Clubhouse patrons enjoy box seats on a first-come, first-served basis, and the VIP hospitality tent.
During the games, an unlimited chef’s selection of Tapas and mingle fare will be available in the VIP area from 5:30 to 7 p.m.
In the VIP tent, post-game dinners are served from 7 to 10 p.m. on Friday and Sunday before track season, and on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday during track season. Dinners are under the supervision of award-winning Chef David Britton, managing partner of Saratoga Polo Catering and Events and the Springwater Bistro in Saratoga Springs. Dinner includes Saratoga Polo’s famed unlimited food stations with five extraordinary entrées, an array of salads, desserts, coffee and delectables, for $35 per person. Reservations are encouraged by calling 518-584-8108.
Patrons are admitted to Saratoga Polo matches via passes. Individual passes are for sale at the gate beginning at 4 p.m. on the day of the match or may be purchased in advance at www.saratogapolo.com or by calling the polo office at 518-584-8108.
Saratoga Polo is one of the four oldest polo clubs in the United States, located on 42 acres, with many matches taking place on the original field built by William Collins Whitney in 1898. Saratoga Polo also hosts a variety of events that expand community activities and benefit a number of local and national charities.
In 2007, groundbreaking is anticipated for the Saratoga Polo Retreat – the first Polo-themed residence club anywhere in the world. The Saratoga Polo Retreat is dedicated to enhancing the significance of Saratoga as a major polo destination, and maintaining Whitney field as an historically significant area.
For more information about the new Saratoga Polo Retreat, Pass Book, dinners, special events and excitement planned for the 2007 season, please call or visit the website.
Saratoga Polo Association
Catering and Events
P.O. Box 5071
Saratoga Springs, New York 12866
Telephone 518-584-8108
Email info@saratogapolo.com
2007 Tournament Schedule
The 2007 scheduled matches at Saratoga Polo are subject to change due to weather and field conditions. For the most up-to-date information about matches, visit www.saratogapolo.com or call 518- 584-8108. _
Friday June 15th – Sunday June 24th_Saratoga Chamber of Commerce Cup
_Wednesday June 27th – Sunday July 8th_USPA President’s Cup
_Friday July 6th – Sunday July 15th_Saratoga Cup
_Wednesday July 11th – Sunday July 22nd_Auto Cup
_Wednesday July 18th – Sunday August 5th_Ylvisaker Cup
_Wednesday July 18th – Sunday August 19th_Thoroughbred Stakes
_Friday August 3rd – Sunday August 19th_USPA Hector and Susan Barrantes Memorial
_Wednesday August 22nd – Sunday September 2nd_Autumn Plates