The Polo Report
By Steve Crowder
JACK OXLEY IS ON TOP AGAIN AS HE—- WINS the Breeders Cup Juvenile.
It looks to be a big time contender for the Derby. A few years ago Jack won the derby and Belmont with Monarchs, who I hear just recently passed away. Jack often reminds me of a Big Gun here in the desert, Al Haagan the 3rd. They just seem to make it work.
Jack oil-gas and horses. AH just loves land and music. It works for both of them. They both love polo and neither play anymore. Jack kept Royal Palm Polo going way after he retired and AH keeps improving Empire Polo Club to the point it maybe the nicest Polo club in the World. You do not have to take my word for it … look it up. Come on out and see Empire. You may be more surprised than the Chicago Cubs or Arrogate at the Breeders Cup Classic.
These men have both played a big part in the sport of polo and their lives have been a big reason it is still here. However, we need new people to help our sport continue to be the KING OF SPORTS.
I think we can all help, but we need a leader and there are few Oxley’s, Hagaans and Goodmans to make it work. Who will do what Oxley’s did in Boca from the 60’s to 2000? Who can do what John Goodman did from then till now? Who will do what Alex Haagen is doing in Indio? NOBODY! THAT I KNOW. That’s the problem, so as I see it we need to make polo sensible for this period of our times.
The Big Factors are :
Cost – So expensive
Why – Horses, Players and cost to maintain them and still compete
Solution – Like Javier Tanoria says :
1 . Cut horses playing to 6. All players play only six horses per game.
2 . Make game simple meaning less wasted time. Makes it a team game without so many horses it becomes all players involved all the time including amateur if you want to win and they will like it much more.
A. One throw-in to start game.
B. Knock-in after goal by team scoring
C. Whomever knocks ball out defends from where it went out as opponent hits from there, where it went out.
This will cut cost dramatically for everyone and make it much more fun for the money MEN and WOMENwill help create many new players .
I also think in the USA as in the UK and all polo playing countries that there should be at least 2 home country players on all teams. In low goal polo, twelve or below, there should be 3. This is where polo will grow from the ranks of young men and women who will know there is a future for them in polo. And it will lower cost in the future and make it a much more local sport wherever it may be.
WHY CALIFORNIA POLO – YOU MAY ASK
COST IT WILL BE ½ OF FLORIDA
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN IPC GOES JUMPING? THERE IS NO JOHN GOODMAN NOW AND NONE LOOKING TO REPLACE HIM.
SO MUCH MORE TO DO …close to the beach, snow skiing, hiking and Hollywood
JUST AS SEXY AND PRETTY AS ANYTHING IN FLORIDA AND IT DOES NOT RAIN or snow.