By Alex Webbe
John Muse’s limited success with his Lucchese team hasn’t dampened his enthusiasm for the game as we understand he recently purchased over a dozen horses from Catamount’s Scott Devon. Devon, recently elevated to three goals, retired from the game following an incident when his horse reared up and went over backwards with him. Scott suffered a concussion and had headaches for several days, but escaped relatively unscathed.
Putting family ahead of the game, the competitive Michigan resident decided it was time to watch the game from the sidelines. Devon’s Catamount team captured both the Joe Barry Memorial and the Ylvisaker Cups in 20-goal competition last spring at the International Polo Club in Wellington.
His retirement will eliminate him as the potential team captain of the Westchester Cup team in an international competition that was being considered for January at the International Polo Club.
Sources have financier/producer Barry Minsky traveling to Santa Barbara for the Pacific Coast Open for the final weekend of the Pacific Coast Open. A recent regular at the Bridgehampton Polo Club and a visitor to Grand Champions in Wellington, Minsky is scheduled to show up in Santa Barbara with well-known Hollywood producer Scott Mednick.
Audi continues to roll getting past Grand Champions 13-10; while the Memo Gracida-led Piocho Ranch team suffered a surprise upset loss to a determined Grant Farm team. Brother Carlos Gracida showed that he still had his A-game as he carried John Muse’s Lucchese team to a 13-12 win over ERG. Zacara flexed its muscles in a 15-8 win over Long Beach.
There is a great deal of speculation over the number of teams that may or may not compete in the US Open this year. Apparently Isla Carroll is out and Skeeterville played its last season. Crab Orchard is out and here is a question about Black Watch. There is more speculation about whether the handicap of the Open will be lowered for the first time in over 40 years as fingers are being pointed to the economy and the success of England’s 22-goal format. What must be considered, however, is that the cost of the 22-goal teams in England far exceeds the cost of a 26-goal team in Wellington.
Black Watch will be competing in the Argentine Open this fall, so look for an appearance from Ralph Lauren during the month of November.
Another Martin County, Florida polo venture, Sunlight Ranch is supposed to be online in January with five fields, according to Carlos Gracida, and The Villages Polo Club, north of Orlando, will be hosting the Camacho Cup on October 5th.