The dreadful weather hit today with a 3rd of the full moon.  It was foggy and cloudy today and cold.  It was around 65 and 73 F,  but I guess we are going to survive.  There is sunshine on its way to Santa Barbara. There will also be polo and lots of action for the next 5 weekends. Today it was a cloudy and cool day but the crowd was a bit quiet as well.    At 10:00 AM it was a double header and Mansour must have been up first as they came flying with a 3-goal lead over Grant’s Farm, but it did not last long.  Jeff Hall came out rockin’ and buried Mansour just a little bit later and they go to 1 & 1 and Mansour stays at 0 – 2.

In the other game at 10:00 AM it was Valiente facing a very hungry Audi and came out short. Audi, with Mark aboard, came out the winners over undefeated Valiente.

Then we hit the final stretch of the day as ERG takes on undefeated Patgones champs of the Skene Cup, but it was the end of the road for them. ERG came out fast and direct.  They took an early lead and hung on to win this one of the undefeated.  It was ERG going to 2 & o in overtime, but they got it done with Lucchese blocking the way to the finals.

In the feature it was Lucchese holding on in overtime to take  a hard-riding Zacara, who gave the other guys just too many chances and paid the fine for it.  That was Lucchese who slid by to go to 1 and 1.

We had a good fun crowd. Ellen seems to keep it growing ,so nothing to whine a bout. This is the way it is right now . . .

Bracket 1                                                       Bracket  2

Valiente               1  and 1                     Patagones   1 and 1

Grants Farm      1 and 1                       Zacara        0 and 2

Audi                    2 and 0                        Lucchese   1  and 1

Mansour           0 and 2                          ERG             2 and o

Friday will be the end of the line and the Finals will be set. Audi may be in, not sure but they would have to get thumped on to not be in.   I have to look a little closer. They have Mansour left in bracket 1.  In Bracket 2 there are a few possibilities as Lucchese and ERG have the early game so everyone will know what they can or cannot do early.  A victory by ERG sends them through and a loss may scramble the eggs a little. Actually that’s wrong. I think Zacara may have the early game Friday against Patagones . Will let you know pronto.

Around the barnyard lots of stories always start many are just stories but lots of pressure starts there.  There is a lot of talk about polo changing from today back to what it was,  more of a team sport with a clear vision that it must be fun for the man with the checkbook. Adam Snow sent me a article written by a 7-goal Argentine Polo player who has put a lot of thought and time in.  He is also the son of a 10-goal player and past Chairman of Polo in Argentina. I will contact him about sharing this story with you ASAP.

SAN DIEGO starts again this Wednesday, so get ready to PARTY where the SURF meets the TURF.

See ya.

Steve Crowder.