NOTE: Gold Cup draw is this Thursday at 7:30pm in the 7th Chukker. There will be a calcutta to start, followed by the draw and then a cocktail party sponsored by Piaget.
Format is two brackets of 4, teams play within the bracket and the two teams in each bracket with the best record after bracket play by Blue Book Criteria go to the semifinals of the Gold Cup, while the bottom two teams in each bracket will go to the semifinals of the subsidiary (Butler Handicap).
Below is the semifinal schedule and pairings for the CV Whitney.
Wednesday Mar 4
1pm Semifinal Zacara vs Audi
3pm Semifinal Lechuza Caracas vs Pony Express
Thursday Mar 5
3pm Orchard Hill vs Las Monjitas
Sunday Mar 8
Noon IPC Cup Final
3pm CV Whitney Final
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 28, 2009
Click here to view teams and tournament background.
PONY EXPRESS PULLS OFF OVERTIME VICTORY IN CV WHITNEY
WELLINGTON, FL—The CV Whitney Cup began today in a hard fought contest that saw Pony Express beat Las Monjitas 12-11 in overtime at International Polo Club Palm Beach.
In the final chukker Las Monjitas down 11-8 held Pony Express scoreless and made up the deficit on goals by Sylvestre Donovan, who replaced an injured Adam Snow in the first chukker, and Nacho Astrada who made the tying goal as regulation time ran out.
The sudden death saw the bowl-in go to Pony Express who took it down to the Las Monjitas goal where a foul was committed defending and the Express’ Matias Magrini converted the easy penalty shot for the victory.
The game saw five red flags fly signaling technical fouls, two on Pony Express and three on Las Monjitas. Magrini led his teams scoring with six all on foul shots. Donovan led Las Monjitas with seven, two on penalty shots.
Whitney action continues on Sunday, March 1 with two games. At noon Lechuza Caracas plays Orchard Hill and at 3 PM on the Stanford Field and Stadium Audi goes against White Birch.
Played since 1979 the CV Whitney is named in honor of Cornelius Vanderbilt “Sonny” Whitney, who along with his cousin John Hay Whitney, were important polo patrons in the 1930’s. The son of Hall of Fame patron Harry Payne Whiney, C.V. won the U.S. Open three times (twice against his cousin), and was a renowned owner and breeder of thoroughbred racehorses.
International Polo is located at 3667 120th Avenue South in Wellington and hosts professional polo tournaments through April and all are invited to attend. The premier game of the week is played at 3 PM every Sunday on the Stanford Field and Stadium. Information can be obtained by calling the polo hotline at 561-282-5290 or on the web at www.internationalpoloclub.com.
NEW TEAMS RIDE IN TO COMPETE IN HIGH GOAL POLO
WELLINGTON, FL-The second half of the action packed polo season is about to get underway at International Polo Club Palm Beach as seven new teams ride in to compete in the CV Whitney Cup.
This year’s competition will feature, White Birch, Las Monjitas, Orchard Hill, Pony Express, Zacara, Audi and Lechuza Caracas.
A whole new caliber of player has also arrived as four of the best in the world will be competing on separate teams. Rated at 10 goals are Mariano Aguerre playing for White Birch, Pablo MacDonough with Orchard Hill, Juan Martin Nero with Lechuza Caracas and Facundo Pieres playing on the Audi squad. Nero, Pieres, and MacDonough all played together on the winning team in the Argentine Open. At International Polo, their fourth player, Gonzalito Pieres, will be playing with his brother on Audi.
“This is a very strong group of players,” said Polo Manager Jimmy Newman. “At this level the competition will be very fast and with this tournament being a single elimination no one wants to go home early.”
The first half of the season at International Polo is composed of 20 goal tournaments. Polo players receive a rating from A to 10, based on their skill and judged by an international committee. The sum of the ratings of the four players on a team determines the level of play. The second half is composed of three 26 goal tournaments beginning with the C.V. Whitney Cup.
Played since 1979 the CV Whitney is named in honor of Cornelius Vanderbilt “Sonny” Whitney, who along with his cousin John Hay Whitney, were important polo patrons in the 1930’s. The son of Hall of Fame patron Harry Payne Whiney, C.V. won the U.S. Open three times (twice against his cousin), and was a renowned owner and breeder of thoroughbred racehorses.
Whitney action gets underway Saturday, February 28 at 3 PM when Pony Express plays Las Monjitas.On Sunday, March 1 there are two games. At noon Orchard Hill plays Lechuza Caracas and at 3 PM on the Stanford Field and Stadium White Birch goes against Audi.
International Polo is located at 3667 120th Avenue South in Wellington and hosts professional polo tournaments through April and all are invited to attend. The premier game of the week is played at 3 PM every Sunday on the Stanford Field and Stadium. Information can be obtained by calling the polo hotline at 561-282-5290 or on the web at www.internationalpoloclub.com. more
Past Champions: (International Polo Club Palm Beach)
2008 Isla Carroll over Las Monjitas 15-12
2007 Catamount
2006 Jedi
2005 White Birch
2004 Catamount
2003 Las Monjitas