Down south in Florida it was Hector Galindo making several goals as Orchard Hill stepped all over White Birch in round two of the 26-goal Gold Cup. Here in Indio, CA it was his brother Carlos Galindo and a herd of Hector’s nephews running wild as they blew by the Feb. 8-Goal Champs Cotterell Farms and the Colorado Cowgir (Jenny Luttrell). They missed Guti (Mariano Gutierrez) so much and he would have proably rather been there as he was on the losing Tri Tech team on the International in the 16 goal. It is a fact that together they were like undefeated and apart they are winless, but that is part of the unknown element of polo. You just never know about unknown possibilties, now you do.
Hanalei Bay got all over Long Beach and they head to the finals versus Windsor Capital/Grant’s Farm who came from 4 down in the third and thrashed Tri Tech in the final three chukkers 7 to 1. Retrenching might not be complete for Tritech. It was Ore/Pac getting by a fouling Hoback, who gave it up in the last 1/2 with fouls.
On the first day after the break we expected a fast trip on green grass, but it was not there. It is hot so water might make it grow. I am not sure who won the Melody Oaks game, but Saturday starts all over again. At 10 AM on field 3 Aspen Oaks with Big Ed Pope is taking on the Wild Woman from the Rockies (Jenny Luttrell) and it maybe her last chance for the final round. The proper Mrs. Ellie and Monteverde take on the Ambassador Glen Holden and Gehache. Also at 10 AM is ParkLane who takes on Nick Winters and Kentfield. At high noon its Rancho Amistad and Joltin’ Joe Anthony taking on Empire in a Father and Son war. Rapid Robert Kiger gears up for a battle as True Choice looks at climbing over the Northern Cal Connection of Mr. Rivkin. Also at 2 PM it is Mr. Smooth (Curt Hughes) and Friendly Chevy taking on long and sexy Ms. Shelley Geiler in the 8-goal. There will also be about 4 of the 2-goal games as well. Just imagine if we eliminate the 2-goal and the 4-goal how much good polo at the 8-goal we would have! It might be amazing. It is just not a fit for me. I believe to make Polo a sport it should be 4-goal/4 chukker polo organized as a simple coaching league and 2- goal could be non existent. To me its like making adults take t-ball for 4 year olds.
Last week I was in Florida and I went by Gulfstream Polo Club. Like Eldorado, Gulfstream was sold last year, but just like Eldorado it fell out contract. They did, however, get some money, but like Eldorado decided to get all the cash in house they could and not spend a penny. Guess what? Gulfstream looks the same as Eldorado with terrible fields and run down from top to bottom. Nothing is fixed and it looks like Eldorado does today, old and finished. Can we right the ship? Maybe, but its a new theory. Cut the crap and hit the high road. Its time to pay to play or don’t play.
A few years ago a man was talking about a General Motors meeting. A prominent dealer and friend said they needed to eliminate some brands and names of Autos and a man named Jim Williams said eliminate Oldsmobile a very big name in cars and all asked why? He said “its simple. The word Old in Oldsmobile makes it old.” This is true. We look as old at Eldorado as we are because we are old and old thinking. I believe in the 50 years of Eldorado, and I have been here for nearly 20, we have never had trophies like the bronzes used as second place trophies for the first 30 years. We now use bronzes for the first place trophies and second place is a plaster painted bronze. Its like they think the cheaper we are the more we get. Its not WalMart and it looks like it. We are finished with this mentality. If you want to be cheap it fits, but its not Polo anymore. Many of you will be unhappy with my comments, but none the less, stop and look around you and tell me if it feels good to be here? See ya.