That is the way it is. Polo is not about family and locals it is about the big bucks from one very low-goal Patron saying I am bigger than you. This all started a while back mainly when we went to 26 goal Polo. Patrons begin buying teams since then 3 rated Patrons have won the Open who were players: Gillian Johnston, Peter Brant and Julian Mannix (all old family players). The rest bought it all and this all started when big money took control and this does not mean there was not big money then it just became a non-Patron competition. Patrons became passengers and blockers, not players, and this started the decline of Polo – slowly but surely it became a money game and this means “Win” – you get paid to do it. So Polo changed, pros knew the deal and they changed, and Patrons started being passengers not players. This created so many more Horses to win and much more money to make it happen. WHY? EGO – I am bigger than you and the winner was, but it removed Polo from the averages. Also (and worst of all) there was the disappearance of old Polo families. They decided to go away and this hurt mainstream Polo and brought in people who are here to win and leave and they did it: Good-bye. Gannon, Lea, Vargas, Bautista this year was different a young American (who like the Busch’s Uihliens, Walkers, Oxleys, Orthweins, Goses to name a few) played to be a part of the team, young Jared Zemi showed it could still happen but it was a long shot and his Father and him decided to give it a go and did IT. So awesome they beat the biggest money in the US today, the best 2 players in the world and probably spent 20% of the money and it was fantastic. However, how does this help Polo? It gives us hope but not really. Why has Polo become only a money game not the sport it was made to be? Yes, it was always a rich man’s sport since the beginning. The big difference was it was one, if not the only, sport where the Patron was part of the team and that was the reason Sunday was so special – Jared was very strong at all points and he was a major contributor to them winning, not just a blocker or a 4th man. He was a player – WHY? He has spent years working with the same people and building his talent, not just a season pro and moving to the next. He has his Father to thank and the Obergon Family who worked with them for 20 years, much like Harold Barry and Benny Guiterez and the Uihlien’s Hector Galindo and the Buschs and Roy Barry and Brinker Joe Barry and the Goses. These were the days when Polo was a King’s sport. Take today’s teams and follow Mr. Tanoria’s ideas and limit each player to 6 horses per game and see how fast Polo changes. Money may help and will, but Patrons become part of the game immediately and the cost goes down just as fast. Eight or 9 horses, 1 groom, less shoeing, feed, stalls, housing – everything goes to 1/2 instantly. This will make players like Jared again and just maybe a few more young Americans will play this sport again.

No matter what, it was a great game and it goes to prove NOBODY KNOWS .

SEE YA