Twenty-five goal arena polo action will become a staple in Wellington as teams battle for $100,000 in prize money.
It was a huge turnout for the successful debut of all-pro arena polo Thursday night at the Equestrian Village (EV) of Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) in Wellington with a live band, an Argentine asado, live big screen coverage and some of the game’s top players battling for a part of the $100,000 purse offered for the first three matches of the event.
Presented by Mark Bellissimo and the International Polo club and under the brand Gladiator Polo, fast-paced action witnessed some of the highest-rated arena polo in the history of the game as Spartacus (Jason Crowder, Felipe Viana and Tommy Biddle) held off a last chukker rally from team Crixus (Santi Torres, Mike Azzaro and Matias Magrini) to register a 12-10 win.
Tommy Biddle, American arena polo’s only 10-goal player led all scoring with nine points, converting on a pair of two-point shots, three penalty goals and two goals from the field. Jason Crowder added a two-pointer with Felipe Viana scored once from the field. Mike Azzaro’s five goals led the Crixus attack. Teammate Santi Torres scored on a two-pointer and added two more goals from the field. Matias Magrini was credited with a goal in a physical, hard fought contest.
The winning team earned $24,000 of the night’s $30,000 purse with Crixus taking home $6,000 for their efforts.
An estimated 3,000 spectators were on hand for the event that promises to be a Wellington staple.