tournament offers competitive action, an exhibition match and activities for fans
WrightWay Polo Center South will pay homage to polo’s Hollywood heritage and celebrate the sport’s tremendous growth with the 3rd annual Summer Cup tournament on Saturday, July 14, at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center, 480 Riverside Dr., in Burbank, California. The public is invited to enjoy watching a sport that’s as classic and timeless as the movies made in its Hollywood backyard.
The tournament will feature a special main event matchup showcasing top professional players and members of the premier Team USPA development program at 6:30 p.m. PDT. Admission is free and open to spectators.
Polo cemented its Hollywood legacy back in the 1930’s as well-known actors and entertainment executives such as Walt Disney, Clark Gable,Will Rogers, and Spencer Tracy took to fields across the Los Angeles area to participate in the thrilling equestrian pastime. Through the years, the sport’s allure has continued to endure within the industry and beyond, from Julia Roberts’ iconic scene on the polo field in “Pretty Woman”to the Royal Couple’s stop in Santa Barbara for a high-profile charity match last summer.
“Polo has a great deal of history in the area thanks in part to popular entertainers’ affinity for the sport that helped put it on the map. Now, we are excited to celebrate the sport and its growth by hosting an entertaining event that everyone can enjoy,” said Erik Wright, professional polo player and founder of WrightWay Polo Center South. “While the sport does attract famous names, it also has a place for everyday people like me who are drawn to it for the action, camaraderie and family aspect. There aren’t many sports that you can play alongside your children like I do in polo, and we want to encourage fans and players from all ages and backgrounds to come out and join in the fun.”
Having been involved in the sport for more than 20 years, Erik Wright is an accomplished professional polo player, instructor and ambassador. Wright was instrumental in growing the sport of polo and founded WrightWay Polo in 1998 to serve the community. Wright, who will be playing in the Summer Cup event, has demonstrated a continued commitment to polo and is responsible for introducing countless new players and fans to the sport.
WrightWay Polo Center South, which operates many area programs through its Los Angeles Equestrian Center and Bel Air Polo Club divisions, is one of four Regional Polo Centers (RPCs) accredited by the U.S. Polo Association (USPA), polo’s national governing body. The center is committed to program development and providing various learning opportunities for new players. It also hosts top-notch professional matches with competitive play that has helped generate the resurgence of polo in the U.S., which was recently illustrated in a 60 Minutes special.
“WrightWay Polo Center South and the RPC program have opened up doors for new players to learn about polo and provided resources for people to get involved in the sport no matter their experience,” said Denny Geiler, Pacific Coast Circuit Governor of the U.S. Polo Association. “This event allows us to recognize local and legendary people like Walt Disney who helped propel polo into the mainstream, while providing the public with a glimpse into a captivating sport that has a promising future.”
The Summer Cup’s special Saturday exhibition match will feature some of polo’s next generation of standout talents with several players on hand to compete from Team USPA including Jared Sheldon, Jesse Bray and Collin White. Team USPA has been influential in mentoring and training young American players and providing opportunities to grow their abilities. The players will face off against a team of pros including Wright, Ardeshir Radpour and Domingo Questal.
Located on 75 lush acres reflecting the historic beauty of Griffith Park, the Los Angeles Equestrian Center is only minutes away from quality hotels, restaurants and attractions in the area. The center hosts a state-of-the-art 3,500 fixed-seat equidome arena where the weekend’s match and activities will be held.
For more information on how to get started in polo through lessons or to learn more about events in the Los Angeles area, visitwww.playpoloinla.com, just fill out the online form and a representative from WrightWay Polo Center South will contact you to set up an introduction.