The Polo Report
By Steve Crowder
Wherever you go in California, polo is happening. It all starts with the I-candy of West Coast Polo … Empire Polo Club. It is the most gorgeous place to play this game we love so much. Their season runs in the Winter from Dec. – March. Santa Barbara will have 8 teams in their next 12-goal Tournament. Will Rogers Polo Club is open for the summer season. California Polo Club, in Los Angeles, is the bread basket of new players. San Diego Polo Club may have 5,000 people on Opening Day which happens this coming Sunday, March 31st. In northern California you have Santa Rosa Polo underway, South Bay Polo Club in Gilroy and Cerra Pampa in Petaluma, CA also active. Menlo Polo Club is already rolling. There is no other placein the World that can match the weather in California because it rarely rains … and that is not always good, especially when we are having drought conditions.
California is definitely a stop on the way to big time polo. Bob J. and Valiente won the U.S. Open this year and Julian Mannix’s team won it in 2014. Lyndon Lea and Zacara, owned British Polo last year and they are on a streak this year. Ben Solemoni, a major Patron here in Santa Barbara for years, is now playing in the U.K. and King of the Gold Cup in Argentina.
We miss them all, but we can DO IT if we keep pushing. We need to learn to accept and welcome them. Jullian Mannix, 2014 U.S. Open Champ, who was the highest-scoring Amateur ever in Florida’s Triple crown with 43 goals scored. Robert Jornayvaz, the son of MVP Bob J., as Pololine’s leader this year are all coming to town. I have to think that we are on the right track. This is a huge plus for Polo in California.
At the moment : Like today
Santa Barbara has the finals of the POPE Challenge today and it has a new look. Klentner Ranch will be taking on last tournament’s runner-ups, Antelope. It will be a true test for young Jake Klentner who is taking on Mr. Palmer. He will have help as Jesse Bray seems to be catching fire. He had a barrage of goals to get them to the finals, so it should be a good one. The weather is perfect. There is a lot of talk about the recent oil spill, but it is not affecting polo. It is just a good excuse for Gas Companies to charge us more. After all, it is not their fault their line broke. It is similar to the recent refinery fire. We must pay more … $4.30 average for regular here.
Across the Pond they have some big ones today. El Ramso vs. Salked and Lyndon Lea and Zacara taking on Sapo and Polito with Talandrcas. Cambiaso and Dubai are taking on Somerton. This is all in the second round of the Queen’s Cup.
On the Political front, how do you like this the Congress of Ca.? They cut veterans and retirees income, but voted to raise their salaries. Why do we not get to vote on their salaries?