Tailgating Makes Polo So Much More Than A Spectator Sport STORY BY ENID ATWATER • PHOTOGRAPHY BY LILA PHOTO
Tailgating is one of the oldest and most traditional ways to view the excitement of a polo match in a festive and social manner. Before grandstands and tents were set up, players and spectators often parked their cars on the sidelines and let down their tailgates for sitting or setting up food stations and bars. Fast-forward a few decades and you’ll find that tailgates have been elevated to an upscale art form at Sunday polo matches. The International Polo Club Palm Beach features 50 white tents lining the emerald-green field. Servers set up elaborate spreads under the shade, champagne is chilled in silver buckets, fresh flowers adorn linen-covered tables, and guests often enjoy the match in color-coordinated, monogrammed director’s chairs. It’s the perfect way to spend a Sunday afternoon outdoors watching the exciting and heated competition on the field. Here’s the inside scoop on throwing the ultimate tailgate party from a few passionate polo enthusiasts who set the pace every Sunday during the season. Palm Beach attorney Don Dufresne is not only an expert in all legal matters concerning the equestrian industry, he is also a former polo player and a consummate Sunday tailgater, with eight seasons under his belt. Dufresne starts procuring his supplies months prior to opening day and has created a savvy system to make the most of every match. “My law practice keeps me busy during the week, so I’ve learned to minimize the amount of time spent planning during the week to be ready for Sunday,” Dufresne said. He has dedicated shelves in his garage with different colored bins that hold his supplies — from the copper
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january 2016 | wellington the magazine
bucket for champagne and wine to the silver ice bucket. For his upscale setup, he loads his Suburban with two tables; 12 director’s chairs of varying heights; two coolers; two bins that hold liquor, wine and champagne; and one bin for plates, glasses, linens and utensils. His signature statement is two flagpoles with hurricane flags waving in the wind, as a tip of the hat to his law school alma mater, the University of Miami. What is his mix of guests? “I entertain clients, friends, elected officials, a few neighbors and business colleagues,” Dufresne said. “It’s a great way to catch up with folks, and it’s the perfect way for me to entertain and enjoy a day outdoors. My tailgate neighbors are former polo players, so we visit back and forth, and guests are always welcome to stop by.” You can usually catch an NFL football player at his well-stocked bar, a polo player or two, and maybe a couple of MLB players. George DuPont, executive director of the Museum of Polo, and his wife, Brenda, call themselves “seasoned tailgaters,” since they have been on the scene at IPC since opening day 13 years ago. Brenda DuPont loves the relaxed atmosphere for entertaining, as it suits the novice spectator as well as the avid polo fan. Her system kicks into gear on Wednesday, when she starts cooking