Sarasota Polo Magazine - 2020

season of 2020 the magazine

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TAKE TAKEAA PUPPY HOME Combine the joy of a cute puppy with with the power power of its Combine the joy of a cute puppy withthe the powerofofitsits life-changing mission, making difference. life-changing mission,and andyou’ll you’lllove lovemaking makingaaadifference. difference.

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contents People of Polo

It’s a Dog’s Life

Polo & the Military

We spotlight a handful of Sarasota Polo Club partners and learn how they fell in love with the fastest and most technical sport played today.

Told from a dog’s perspective, this feature focuses on the happiness and independence “man’s best friend” brings to those they serve in the sport of polo.

For centuries, polo’s history has been entwined with the military. The continued interaction between nations’ armed forces on the polo field continues to have a positive influence on the sport.

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Tailgating Traditions: It is difficult to find a better way to spend a Sunday at Sarasota Polo Club.

The Green Beach: Much goes into caring for the 150 acres of polo fields.

The Women’s Wave in Polo: The Sarasota Polo Women’s Challenge returned to SPC in 2019 and received rave reviews.

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The Gift of the Groom: The importance of the groom’s role can’t be overstated when it comes to preparing the horses for competition at Sarasota Polo Club.

The Last of the Wild Horses: The last of the truly wild horses, Mongolia’s modern equines, Przewalski’s Horses, are majestic animals.

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Features & Departments Credits..................................... 10 Welcome Letter.......................12 Season Schedule...................... 14 2020 Season Sponsors............ 16 Learn the Polo Basics.............. 18 Polopedia.................................20 Tools of the Trade...................22 What is That?..........................24 The Brain Health Initiative Explained................36 Spectators on the Sidelines..... 53

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A Day They’ll Never Forget...80 2020 Player Spotlight.............85 Polo Action Photos.................93 Winners Circle......................108 Best Playing Ponies............... 116 Year End Awards................... 118 Grounds Map........................120 Championship Field Map....122 Polo Compendium...............124 The Seventh Chukker..........128

credits Sarasota Polo Magazine is the official annual publication of the Sarasota Polo Club.

Sarasota Polo Club 8201 Polo Club Lane Sarasota, FL 34240 941.907.0000 SarasotaPolo.com Operations

Project Management Partner A.E. Engine, Inc 11880 28th St. North Suite 101 St. Petersburg, FL 33716 727.209.0792 ae-engine.com

Head Polo Pro

Craig Baroncelli

Paige Lautzenheiser Mason Wroe

Assistant Club Pro

Josh Shelton

Club Barn Manager

Amanda Shelton

Publisher

Creative Director

Jason Tedeschi Art Director

Joe Rabuck

Graphic Designer

Director of Sales and Marketing

Nicole Cooper

Field Manager

Dan Guttenplan

Sarasota Polo Magazine

Contributing Writers Abby Weingarten, Daniel Paulling, Dan Guttenplan, Sarah Eakin, Ron Trytek, Paige Lautzenheiser

Ron Trytek

Ronnie Jeglie

Co-Editors-in-Chief

Ron Trytek Paige Lautzenheiser Contributor

Monica Stringer

Managing Editor

Photographers Julio Aguilar, Eric Nalpas, Joe Rabuck, Tyler Rabuck

Sarasota Polo Magazine specifies that post-press changes may occur to any information presented in this publication and takes no responsibility for goods or services advertised. sar asota polo

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Welcome, Sarasota Polo Enthusiasts!

O

n behalf of Misdee and our dedicated staff, I am pleased to welcome you to the 29th Season of the Sarasota Polo Club. Established in 1991 as the first development in Lakewood Ranch, the Sarasota Polo Club has a remarkable legacy filled with memories of SMR cowboy polo transitioning to the “sport of kings” as we know it today. Misdee and I are honored to continue this legacy for another season and we promise that it will be even greater than last year. We are devoted to developing a growing base of passionate Sarasota polo players and fans by providing exciting experiences and exhilarating matches!

Polo is a community sport like no other. For decades, the Sarasota Polo Club has been a popular Sunday tradition and part of the Sarasota and Lakewood Ranch social scenes. Our 2019 Polo Season was one of the most successful seasons in our Club’s history. Polo audiences have consistently grown in attendance, and we look forward to sharing this exciting sport and our Club with even more friends from the community this season.

Based on your suggestions and new for this season, we are introducing a Sarasota Polo Club Social Membership, as well as a number of premium polo ticket options. We will continue our partnership with Lakewood Ranch, hosting multiple food truck vendors and live music every Wednesday afternoon beginning in January. We have also launched a series of Sunset Polo Happy Hours, taking place on select Friday evenings throughout the season. Please check our polo schedule, which can be found inside this magazine, as well as the Sarasota Polo Game Day Program, which can be found at the gates every Sunday. I also encourage you to connect with us on Facebook (@SarasotaPoloClubatLakewoodRanch) and Instagram (@SarasotaPolo) for live updates!

By the way, we are more than just polo; our Club’s spectacular grounds and venues are home to a variety of community and social events including outdoor concerts, festivals, sporting events, corporate meetings, charity fundraisers and elegant weddings.

We thank you for your continued support. Misdee and I are thrilled to be sharing another fun-filled season with our fans, friends, neighbors and guests from around the globe.

Have a wonderful time. We hope you will come back and see us!

Happy Chukkers,

James M. Miller

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2020 Polo Schedule DAY

TOURNAMENT

THEME

HALFTIME

Dec. 15

10-12 Goal

Opening Day

Clydesdales; Hitting Horses

Dec. 22

10-12 Goal

Christmas at the Green Beach Santa Toy Drive

Best Ugly Sweater Contest

Dec. 29

10-12 Goal

Jan. 5

10-12 Goal

Jan. 12

6 Goal Ringling Final

Jan. 19

8 Goal Wayne Brown Memorial

Jan. 26

8 Goal Wayne Brown Memorial Final

DAY

TOURNAMENT

THEME

HALFTIME

Mar. 1

Sarasota Women’s Challenge

Think Pink

Clydesdales; Hitting Horses

Mar. 8

8-12 Goal USPA National Inter-Circuit Championship

Pirate Polo

Clydesdales; Hitting Horses

Mar. 15

8-12 Goal USPA National Inter-Circuit Championship Final

St. Patrick’s Day

Pin the Shamrock on the Donkey

Mar. 22

10-12 Goal RAU Memorial

Kid's Day

Costume Contest

Mar. 29

10-12 Goal RAU Memorial Final

Apr. 5

10-12 Goal USPA National Commander-inChief Cup

Military Day

Clydesdales; Hitting Horses

Apr. 12

10-12 Goal USPA National Commander-inChief Cup Final

Easter

Helicopter Egg Drop

Clydesdales; Hitting Horses

Clydesdales; Hitting Horses 80’s - Groovin’ on the Green

Clydesdales; Hitting Horses

Clydesdales; Hitting Horses

Stick Pony Barrel Races Super Hero Sunday

Best Superhero/ Supervillian

Feb. 2

8 Goal USPA Officer's Cup

Super Bowl

Clydesdales; Hitting Horses

Feb. 9

8 Goal USPA Officer’s Cup Final

Woofminster

Woofminster Dog Show

Feb. 16

8 Goal Constitution Cup

Clydesdales; Hitting Horses

Friday, January 31, 2020

Feb. 23

8 Goal Constitution Cup Final

Clydesdales; Hitting Horses

Friday, March 13, 2020

Sunset Polo Happy Hour Friday, February 28, 2020

Friday, March 27, 2020

P

olo matches are open to the public every Sunday at 1:00 p.m., beginning December 15, 2019, through April 12, 2020. Gates open at 10:00 a.m. Polo tickets are $15 and children 12 and under are free.

With Clydesdale wagon rides, an opening parade, a live national anthem performance, exciting polo action, tailgating, half-time entertainment, divot stomping, food and beverages, and plenty of fresh air, Sunday polo is the perfect setting for a family and friends outing.

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Our Season of 2020 Sponsors Sponsors

2020 Corporate Sponsors • A.E. Engine Media Marketing • Bayside Pet Resort • Blue Stream Fiber • Brain Health Initiative • California Closets • Couture Real Estate • Cryo Studio Sarasota • Dimmit Automotive Group • Dinan Group • Edward Jones • Everglades Equipment Group • Farmers Insurance / Hansen Agency • Fifth Third Private Bank • Florida Shower Doors • Florida Southern Roofing and Sheetmetal, Inc • Glad Wags • Gold Coast Eagle Distributing • Grove

• Horse Network • Nautical American Gin • Hoskins Ramirez Group • Neal Signature Homes • Humane Society of Manatee County • North South Wealth Management • Investus Realty • OneGroup Wealth Investment Services/ • J.P. Morgan LPL Financial • Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital • Pandora Store, University Town Center • Lakewood Ranch • Parkinson Place • Libby’s Neighborhood Brasserie • Planet Stone • Loaded Cannon Distillery • Plunkett Raysich Architects, LLP • Luhrsen Goldberg • Premier Sotheby’s International Realty • McCarver & Moser Jeweler • Raymond James • Merrill Lynch, Adamchak, Bordes & Associates • Rio Art Studio & Gallery Wealth Management • Rogers Griffin Group • Metz Culinary Management • Roofing by Curry • Milan Catering and Event Design • Rudd International, Inc. • Minuteman Press • Sarasota Crew • Mosquito Mist • Sirius Day Spas • Music Compound • Southeastern Guide Dogs

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• St. Martha Catholic School • The Circus Arts Conservatory • The Don CeSar • The Lake Club at Lakewood Ranch • The Observer • The Out-of-Door Academy • The Players Centre for Performing Arts • The Ritz-Carlton Residences Sarasota • The UPS Store • Toll Brothers • U.S. Polo Association • UBS Financial Services Inc. • VM Development Group, LLC • Waterside at Lakewood Ranch • Wicked Good Cupcakes • Willis Smith Construction • Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming • Wrigley Media Group

Learn the Polo Basics

A viewer’s guide to one of the fastest growing sports

T

he 2,500-year-old game of polo is one of the fastest and most technical sports played today. It is gaining increasing popularity as a premier spectator sport and can be an easy game for the firsttime spectator to enjoy. Here are a few basic facts to help you watch the game: GAME BASICS Polo is played on a 10-acre grass field, 300 yards in length by 160 yards, which is the approximate area of 10 football fields. Goal posts are set eight yards apart on either end of the field. The object of the game is to move the ball downfield, hitting the ball through the goal for a score. Teams change direction after each goal. The team with the most scores at the end of the match is deemed the winner.

Two teams, made up of four players each, are designated by shirt color. The players wear high boots, knee guards, and a helmet. The ponies wear protective bandages and boots to shield them from the ball or the mallet. By tradition, players wear white pants in tournaments. The mallet, made of a bamboo shaft with a hardwood head, is the instrument used to hit the polo ball.

The polo ball was formerly made of wood but is now plastic. It is about 3 to 3 ½ inches in diameter and 3 ½ to 4 ½ oz. in weight. In fact, the English word “polo” is derived from the Tibetan word “pulu,” meaning ball.

The surface of a polo field requires careful and constant grounds maintenance to keep the field in good playing condition. During halftime of a match, spectators are invited to go onto the field to participate in a polo tradition called “divot stomping,” which was developed to not only help replace the mounds of earth (divots) that are torn up by the horses’ hooves, but to also afford spectators the opportunity to walk about and socialize.

There are six periods, or “chukkers,” in a match. Each chukker is seven minutes long. Play begins with a throw-in of the ball by the umpire at the opening of each chukker and after each goal. Only penalties or injuries may stop play as there are no timeouts or substitutions allowed (except for tack repair).

The four basic shots in polo are distinguished by the side of the pony on which strokes or shots are made. That is “near-side” (left side of the mount) and “off-side” (right side of the mount). This creates the near-side forward, and back shot, and the off-side forward, and back shot. Shots can also be made under the pony’s neck, across his tail, or the difficult under-the-belly shot, all variations of the basic shots.

A team is made up of four players, each wearing a jersey numbered 1 through 4, which corresponds to their assigned position. No. 1 is the most offensive player, concentrating on opportunities for scoring. No. 4 is the defensive player, primarily responsible for defending his team’s goal. Usually, the most experienced and highest-rated players are at positions 2 and 3, with the pivotal player being No. 3, who must serve as an effective field captain, or quarterback.

The No. 3 coordinates the offense, and passes the ball upfield to his teammates as they press toward the opposition’s goal. Each player is also assigned an opponent to cover on defense and must be prepared to shift offensive and defensive modes and to make any play that will benefit his team.

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THE RULES Although there are many rules to the game of polo, the primary concept to which all rules are dedicated is safety – for the player and his mount.

The right-of-way rule is defined by a player’s position relative to the direction of travel of the ball when hit. Once hit, an imaginary line is drawn from the player to the ball, and extended ahead of the ball in the direction it is traveling. This imaginary line can not be crossed by other players. In general, play will flow backward and forward, parallel to the imaginary line extended ahead of, and behind, the ball. This rule creates safe traffic patterns that enable the participants to play at top speeds and to avoid dangerous collisions.

The line of the ball may not be crossed except under special circumstances and only in such a way

as to legitimately gain control of the ball. When a player has the line of the ball on his right, he has the right-of-way. This can only be taken away by “riding off” and moving the player off the line of the ball by making shoulder-to-shoulder contact.

Strategy and anticipation are two of the most important elements in polo and usually come with experience. For the spectator, keep an eye on the horses.

The speed and athletic abilities of both the horse and rider are spectacular. All of these elements combined make the fast-paced action of polo one of the most exciting and demanding sports in the world.

PLAYER HANDICAPS Each player is assigned an individual handicap on the ascending basis of C, B, A (-2 thru 0) and 1 thru 10. This Handicap reflects the player’s ability and his value to the team. The higher the handicap, the better the player (which is opposite to golf). There are only a few 10-goal players in the world.

The team handicap is the combined handicaps of the four players. The team with the lesser handicap is granted the difference in goals (or points) prior to the start of the match. For that reason, a match may well have a “score” prior to the start of the game based on team handicaps.

Player handicaps are evaluated and revised annually by the United States Polo Association. Handicapping is a subjective evaluation of the individual’s horsepower, game sense, hitting ability, and overall value to a team.

PONIES The polo ponies are central to the success of any team. They are primarily Thoroughbreds, often with race track experience, and considered the most athletic of equine performers because of the requirements to sprint, stop, turn and accelerate to open speed for seven minutes in duration. Although they are called “ponies,” they are actually small horses (average height 15 to 16 hands high). Players must change mounts after each chukker due to extreme demands placed on the ponies. Therefore, a team usually has a minimum of 24 horses available during the match.

Most horses can be trained to play polo, however training horses to learn the game should only be taken on by experienced polo players. Beginner and intermediate players are much better off buying an already trained polo pony.

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Polopedia Basic Definitions to add to Your Polo Watching Enjoyment Back Shot: A shot that can be hit from either side of the horse.

Chukker: There are six chukkers in a polo match, each one lasting 7 ½ minutes. Between each chukker, players change horses.

Divot Stomping: An activity that incorporates spectators into the game.

During halftime, spectators are invited to go onto the playing field to replace pieces of turf that have been dug up by the horses.

Double-Chukkered: This term means that the same horse has been approved to be played again in a later chukker.

Field: The polo field is 300 yards long and 160 yards wide (10 acres). The goal posts have an 8-yard span.

Game: The game of polo consists of either four or six chukkers, depending on the number of available horses, the level of play, or the nature of the tournament.

Goal: A goal is scored when the ball crosses the line between the goal posts.

The team’s goal changes each time a goal is scored.

Handicap: Registered players are rated on a scale of minus 2 through 10 (the higher the better). Only 0 and 1 goal players can go up in half-point increments.

Hook: This is an extremely effective

defensive technique. A player may use his mallet to interfere with his opponent’s swing.

Knock-In: Should a team, in an offensive drive, hit the ball across the opponents’ backline, the defending team resumes the game with a free hit from the backline.

Line-of-the-Ball or Right-of-Way: This imaginary line follows the path that the ball takes. On each side of this line is a lane and these two lanes determine the right-of-way of the player.

Mallet: The shaft is made of bamboo cane with a hard-wood head. The head is beveled on one end to allow a full swing flush to the ground. The mallet is highly flexible and varies in length.

Near-Side Shot: This type of shot is made from the left side of the horse. A near-side shot can either be a forehand or backhand shot.

Neck Shot: A ball which is hit under a horse’s neck from either side.

Off-Side Shot: The off-side is the right side of the horse. It is the most commonly used shot in polo.

Penalty: A penalty is a free hit towards the goal from a set distance. The severity of the foul committed determines what penalty will be awarded. sar asota polo

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Positions: Each of the four team members play a distinctly different position. Players may momentarily change positions, but they try to stay at their initial spot. Player No. 1 is the most forward offensive player. No. 2 is just as aggressive, but plays deeper.

No. 3 is the pivot between offense and defense and tries to turn all plays to offense. No. 4, or the back, is the defensive player whose principle role is to protect the goal.

Ride-Off: A ride-off occurs when two riders attempt to push each other off the line of the ball.

Tail Shot: A tail shot involves hitting the ball behind and under the horse’s rump.

Third Man: This refers to the referee who sits off the field. If and when the two umpires on the field are in disagreement, the third man makes the final decision.

Throw-In: A chukker begins and many plays resume with the umpire bowling the ball between the two ready teams.

Umpires: Two mounted umpires on the field consult each other after each infringement and impose a penalty only if they agree. If they do not agree, they confer with the third man. They also monitor safety for the players and horses.

We applaud your ability to perform when it matters most We support the Sarasota Polo Club at Lakewood Ranch.

Adamchak, Bordes & Associates Wealth Management Joseph M. Adamchak, CPFA Senior Vice President Senior Financial Advisor Steven F. Bordes, CIMA® First Vice President Senior Consultant Ryan D. Adamchak, CFP® Financial Advisor Paul D. Lavezzoli, CFP® Financial Advisor Merrill Lynch Wealth Management 6311 Atrium Drive Suite 100B Lakewood Ranch, FL 34202 941.364.5654 fa.ml.com/abwm

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (also referred to as “MLPF&S” or “Merrill”) makes available certain investment products sponsored, managed, distributed or provided by companies that are affiliates of Bank of America Corporation (“BofA Corp.”). MLPF&S is a registered broker-dealer, Member SIPC and a wholly owned subsidiary of BofA Corp.

Investment products:

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The Bull Symbol and Merrill Lynch are trademarks of Bank of America Corporation.

CIMA® is a registered service mark of the Investment Management Consultants Association dba Investments & Wealth Institute. Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. owns the certification marks CFP® and CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ in the U.S. © 2019 Bank of America Corporation. All rights reserved.

AR98WBLS | AD-09-19-0188 | 470974PM-0519 | 09/2019

Tools of the Trade

The rules for equipment vary in details between the hosting authorities, but are always for the safety of the players and mounts.

Polo, also known as the sport of kings, is a pastime that demands a kit to match. A polo player’s equipment is very important not only for safety, comfort and performance, but also to demonstrate the right attitude to playing the game.

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Polo Boots For the same reasons that knee pads are essential to a polo player’s safety during a match, top quality riding boots are a must. Ideally these made-for-polo boots should be thick, high quality leather, with a good sole and ankle support.

Polo Bags Bags help carry the equipment (sticks, boots and saddle).

Polo Whip The whip should have a good solid leather grip.

Protective Helmet Polo was once a form of training for cavalry - a mentality it’s easy to understand when you dress for a polo match today, with its own special protective equipment. Most important in this regard is the helmet to insure the player against any glancing blows from the polo ball, stray mallets and other potential hazards of the sport.

When choosing a helmet it is always best to choose a product which has been approved by NOSCAE (the National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment).

Polo Balls Different playing conditions can require different polo balls, so it’s best to consider which best suits your circumstances. In situations where weather conditions limit visibility, red balls can ensure a match goes ahead.

The standard ball for outdoor polo is made of bamboo or willow root, measures about 3 ¼ inches in diameter and weighs about 4 ounces.

Polo Gloves The best modern polo wear is designed not just for protection, but also comfort and challenging conditions. Good quality gloves can offer extra grip in slippery conditions and low temperatures, meaning a good pair can be the difference between success and failure in the key moments of a match.

Polo Knee Pads Knee pads are also an essential part of the kit, with a player’s legs very exposed to the rigors of the match in the saddle. Different players may favor different variations of polo knee pads, including either two or three straps (the third helping to further secure the pad if necessary).

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Regulation Spurs Pair solid boots with some reliable spurs, as without a strong, preferably stainless steel pair, any issues with this will affect the player’s balance, and even safety, during the game.

Saddles Saddles are English-style with deep seats like jumping saddles.

Polo Mallets and Sticks At the business end of your polo game, the polo mallet and stick needs the right specification for you. The weight of the mallets and the length of the stick are both customizable to ensure this instrument suits the height of the pony, as well as playing style. The mallet has a rubber-wrapped grip with a webbed thong for wrapping around the hand and a flexible bamboo-cane shaft with a bamboo head 9 1/2 inches in length, the whole weighing about 7 ounces and varying from 48 to 53 inches, depending on pony size and length of a player’s arm. The ball is struck with the side of the mallet, not the end.

What is That?

Key Terms and Definitions

a

Bandages Protective wrapping that shield ponies’ legs against contact with ball.

b

Braided Tail

c

Knee Guard

Prevents interference with the mallet

For knee protection.

d

Breeches

e

Helmet

f

Number

g

Polo pants, always white in polo.

Hard surface, lined and strapped. The helmet protects the player from swinging mallets and balls traveling at a speed of nearly 100 mph.

Each player wears a number 1-4. Every team member has a different role in the game

Reins To enhance control of the pony

h

Bridles

i

Breast Plate

j

Mallet

This series of leather starrings and supports give the player steering and stopping control

Stops the saddle from slipping back

Made of Bamboo or plastic composite shafts. Mallets come in different lengths depending on the height of the pony

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Autumn Collection

What do you love?

Discover new arrivals

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People of Polo

Tim Hornung

Private Wealth Advisor, North South Wealth Management

By Dan Guttenplan

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of P O PLE O

LO

From left, Kaitlyn (15), Michelle, Hanna (11), Timothy and Alexa (13) Hornung care for an eight-stable barn with four Thoroughbred horses on the Sarasota Polo Club grounds.

N

either Tim Hornung nor his wife, Michelle, grew up owning horses, but they are now providing their own children with an equine experience they could have only imagined a decade ago.

Tim, Michelle and daughters Kaitlyn (15), Alexa (13) and Hanna (11) relocated from the Cincinnati area in the summer of 2012 to The Lake Club in Lakewood Ranch, FL. After the girls gained exposure to equestrian training and several polo games, Kaitlyn and Hanna took to the sport and wanted to relocate to a place that offered more acreage and additional exposure to horses, similar to what they had in Cincinnati.

The Hornungs purchased 10 acres in the Sarasota Polo Club, where they built an eight-stable barn. They now have four Thoroughbred horses.

“It’s like paradise,” Tim Hornung said.

“It’s absolutely amazing. We have 10 acres of property with access to hundreds of manicured acres. Within five minutes, we have a mall with incredible shopping and plenty of restaurants to choose from. We’ve made so many good friends – including several professional polo players – and that’s been a great influence on the girls.”

The Hornung children received their first exposure to polo four years ago when they participated in a one-day clinic at the Sarasota Polo Club. Kaitlyn and

Hanna are now members of the Sarasota Interscholastic Polo Team, under the tutelage of David Eldredge. Both Tim and Michelle Hornung credit Scott Lancaster and David Eldredge for helping their children develop a love for the sport of polo. Prior to coaching the interscholastic team, Eldredge coached at Cornell University for 30 years, leading the men’s and women’s team to a combined 14 national championships.

Kaitlyn and Hanna practice two days a week with the interscholastic program.

Each practice consists of one hour of drills and one hour of competition.

“The girls love horses,” Michelle Hornung said. “There’s something

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different about the idea of it being more than a sport. They tried that first clinic, and they’ve been hooked ever since.”

Tim Hornung said the improvement his daughters have made over the last three years has been inspiring.

“It’s absolutely amazing,” Tim Hornung said. “Their talent and skills have gone from rags to riches.”

The middle Hornung child, Alexa, has found other interests in the Sarasota region.

She has developed a passion for singing, dancing and the performing arts. However, all three children enjoy helping to maintain the horses and the property – both cleaning the stables and keeping the lawn manicured.

“It’s actually fun,” Michelle Hornung said. “We all enjoy taking care of it. We all fight to see who gets to cut it. We have multiple John Deere tractors, and the kids can cut the grass with the tractors.”

Fellow Sarasota Polo Club members have likely seen the Hornung family on the member side of the field on Sundays.

The Cincinnati transplants have grown to love spending Sundays soaking in the competitive polo scene. They also make the most of the other amenities the Sarasota Polo Club has to offer, including the Clubhouse, bridal paths and arena.

“We have the same spot on the sideline with the same people every week,” Michelle Hornung said. “We love that people come on Sunday, get there early, and hang out for the day. We could not ask for a better lifestyle!”

People of Polo

of P O PLE O

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Attorney, Entrepeneur

PE

Eleni Marinucci

By Dan Guttenplan

Eleni Marinucci’s path through life has taken her all over the world and various high-profile professional experiences, but one constant almost from the very beginning has been her connection to polo.

A native of Australia, Marinucci grew up around polo and Australian rules football. Early on, her athletic talent shined just as bright as her competitiveness and zest for attacking each day.

“I really enjoyed the competition and strategy of polo,” said Marinucci, who grew up watching her cousin, Edward Matthies, play.

When comparing her two favorite sports of Australian rules football and polo, Marinucci found that the latter kept her out of trouble and made her less susceptible to injury. She embraced polo as her athletic passion while studying law in Australia.

After establishing a strong reputation as a well-respected attorney, Marinucci in 2001 was offered a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to work sar asota polo

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for Kofi Annan in the strategic planning unit at the United Nations headquarters in New York City.

Her professional journey has since taken her to finance work with large-scale development projects.

Following her service with the United Nations, she served as an attorney with Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP. In 2009, a colleague at Skadden set her up on a blind date with Joseph Marinucci. Before the end of that date, Joseph proposed to Eleni, and she accepted.

In 2010, Joseph asked Eleni to join the company he founded – Digital Media Solutions – as the general counsel. In Eleni’s seven years with DMS, she lifted the digital advertising agency to the largest of its kind in the United States. Digital Media Services is currently the fastest growing privately held company in the Tampa Bay area.

Joe Marinucci was named Ernst & Young’s 2019 Entrepeneur of the Year for Florida.

The Marinuccis are no longer working together in a professional sense, as Eleni stepped down as general counsel after the company’s first equity buyout in 2016. She has since started a second investment company which specializes in livestock communities and sports development.

This professional endeavor has led to a perfect reconnection to the sport she grew up playing – polo. Marinucci credits her instruction from Sarasota Polo Club instructors Scott Lancaster and Stuart Campbell for her ascent to becoming one of the most promising women’s players in the area. In the first Sarasota Polo Women’s Challenge last year, Marinucci earned MVP and high-scorer honors.

“I think a lot of people think there is a big gap between having the ability to get on a horse and the ability to get on a polo field,” Marinucci said.

“While I certainly benefited from great teachers, I do think I also benefited from my calculation of risk and skill. I don’t have the best horse control, but what I execute well is contact with the ball and the micro movements required to do that. There are players with far better horsemanship than I, but I believe people could surprise themselves just as I have done. Embrace it and have a go.”

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People of Polo

Robert Dinan MFS, CIPS, LHE

of P O PLE O

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By Dan Guttenplan

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Investor, Dinan Realty Group

It didn’t take long for Robert and Renee Dinan to become interested in the sport of polo. In fact, it was almost love at first sight when the couple took in their first match at Sarasota Polo Club six or seven years ago.

“My wife, Renee, has an avid love for horses,” Dinan said. “We went to see a polo match to learn more about the sport, and we got hooked.”

By now, Sarasota Polo Club members are likely familiar with the Dinan’s, who spend just about every Sunday on the sidelines of The Green Beach at Sarasota Polo Club.

“Not only are the players superb athletes, but the horses are easily as superb,” Dinan said. “Both the players and the horses are true athletes.”

Renee Dinan attended the “Polo School ” at Sarasota Polo Club shortly after taking in her first match. She purchased her first polo pony about four years ago and added a second one a year ago. Robert is painfully aware that the number will only increase.

Robert’s business, Dinan Group, has also sponsored teams in some of the tournaments at the club.

This spring, Robert plans to begin taking lessons at Sarasota Polo Club, along with two of his business partners.

“The ability to be on a horse while you’re riding at 40 mph, and then hit the ball in the direction you want to hit it, is pretty impressive,” Robert Dinan said. “It’s remarkable to see the the different abilities each horse has for every player.”

The Dinan Group with Align Right Realty will be hosting a networking event March 29 at Sarasota Polo Club. Invitations to follow.

“This is a great way to introduce the sport to fellow colleagues, clients and friends. It’s sure to be a fun day.” Dinan said.

Dinan expects that many of his colleagues and clients will fall in love with the sport – just as he and his wife did several years ago.

“It’s an opportunity for them to learn about a fast-paced and wonderful sport, and we get to share the experience with clients, friends and colleagues,” Dinan said.

Being a real estate investor himself, Robert has a wealth of experience in finance, contracts and negotiation. Robert structures deals tailored to putting clients in their dream properties with ease; always providing expert guidance along with local as well as national resources. Each individual customer benefits from Robert’s premium standard of excellence, incomparable in the real estate industry. Robert’s professional reputation and personalized client services have continually surpassed expectations. He builds lasting relationships by establishing the trust of both buyers and sellers with seamless closings. His dedication to his clients can best be described in his personal mantra, “Your Florida Realtor. You will be glad we met!” sar asota polo

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People of Polo

Jeffery Kin

of P O PLE O

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Managing Artistic Director, Players Centre for Performing Arts

By Dan Guttenplan

One wouldn’t think polo and theater could go together as nicely as dinner and a movie, but Jeffery Kin begs to differ.

The Managing Artistic Director of The Players Centre for Performing Arts saw an opportunity for a partnership with Sarasota Polo Club in 2017 after making the decision to move The Players to the Waterside Place development of Lakewood Ranch.

“Once I drove by, I saw the potential,” Kin said. “What some saw as a Clubhouse, I saw as a background to a set. What some saw as stables with horses, I saw as potential for plays with horses.

Wouldn’t it be great to collaborate on something unique that will benefit something different?”

That sentiment sparked a growing partnership between Sarasota Polo Club and The Players, which is still evolving three years later. Kin and The Players recently completed their third season presenting Legend of Sleepy Hollow at the Sarasota Polo Club and the hope, for both The Players and sponsor Schroeder-Manatee Ranch, is that the tradition continues in 2020. This year, the production of the play turned into a Harvest Festival.

“The folks at Sarasota Polo Club are so gracious and inviting,” Kin said. “They realize there is an sar asota polo

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opportunity to reach more people by expanding their horizons. It’s something unique and different for our area. We entertain by action and acting, so our goals and missions are very similar to those of the polo club.”

Kin’s interest in polo stems from his childhood growing up on a farm in Central Ohio. The youngest of six children, he claims he had to be “loud and entertaining” to earn an audience among his brothers and sisters. He started acting in community theater productions at the age of 13.

“I realized I was home,” Kin said. “I loved the stage, the stress, the fun, and the work ethic required to succeed. The idea of preparing and rehearsing to get it right really appealed to me. It still does to this day.”

Kin, 55, studied theater in New York City and became an equity performer. In 2007, he accepted the Artistic Director position at The Players, where he is able to showcase his “blessed ability to use both sides of his brain.”

He believes that leading a group of volunteers to a successful performance on stage is surprisingly similar to a polo player’s ability to lead a horse to a successful outcome on Sarasota Polo Club’s Green Beach.

“There’s very little difference between theater and sports,” Kin said. “An athlete trains daily, and it’s all about having his head in the game and visualizing what moves are coming. You practice and train, and you’re constantly learning and being challenged. You don’t always win or get the part you want. There is a direct relationship between the physicality of being an athlete and an actor.”

Kin produced a performance of Headless Horsemen at Sarasota Polo Club.

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People of Polo

Stephanie Peabody, PSYD, HSPP

of P O PLE O

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Neuropsychologist, Executive Director of Brain Health Initiative

By Dan Guttenplan

Dr. Stephanie Peabody’s first impressions of polo last season were much like those of any firsttime polo spectator. She marveled at the pristine field conditions, the power, and grace of the horses, and the athleticism of the riders. Then she started thinking like a neuropsychologist. “I thought about my days of working with elite performers and about the training of the athletes as well as the horses from a brain health and performance perspective,” Peabody said.

Peabody is the Founding Director of the Brain Health Initiative (BHI). The BHI is a collaboration between the Academy for Brain Health and Performance (ABHP) and Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), a Harvard Medical School Teaching Hospital. With over 20 years of experience as a clinician and program designer, consistently working to improve outcomes in brain health, development, aging and performance, Peabody couldn’t help but become fascinated with the machinations of the game of polo. “It is actually complex from a brain functioning perspective, and I was struck by the cognitive, physical, emotional and social skills needed to manage the speed, sar asota polo

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anticipation, and pressure involved in the game for both the player and the horse,” Peabody said.

“I thought about what was necessary for a rider to be confident, composed, and effective.”

All of Peabody’s work with BHI is focused on creating and implementing programs for immediate application. In 2009, she was awarded a visiting scholar appointment at Harvard University to extend her vision of promoting a holistic approach to optimizing brain health, performance, and overall well-being across the lifespan in order to have significant, large-scale impact at the community level. She could foresee a scenario in which BHI becomes involved in studying the science of brain performance and of the implications of the brain health pillars (brain health protective and risk factors) experienced by the athletes, their support system, and the spectators. “From a brain health promotion and prevention perspective, I’m interested in raising awareness of the athletes and spectators of the importance of brain health and injury and illness prevention as well as the implications of concussions and the process of recovery,” Peabody said. “In addition, I could imagine having athletes participate in pre-season brain health baselines and providing evidence-based interventions to support any brain health concerns or symptoms as well as from an elite performance optimization perspective.”

Peabody and colleagues founded the BHI in 2018 and headquartered in Lakewood Ranch, Fla. With its large, multi-generational community and diverse resources to support the health and well being of its residents, the Florida Gulf Coast region is the ideal setting for ground-breaking research and innovation focused on brain health and performance.

“After years of diagnosing and treating patients across the lifespan, I realized there was much to be done to promote brain health and fight brain illness from a proactive perspective,” Peabody said.

“Working with one patient at a time is meaningful but also insufficient in addressing the global brain illness crisis. The hope is that we can create communities that support cultures of brain healthy lifestyles, and this will go a long way to prevention, early identification and intervention, as well as optimizing brain performance across the lifespan.”

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#LIVEAUTHENTICALLY @USPOLOASSN | USPOLOASSNGLOBAL.COM

The Brain Health Initiative Explained The Brain Health Initiative (BHI) is a cutting-edge, new approach to studying and taking action on brain health and brain illness that’s set to revolutionize neuroscience research and innovation toward increasing brain health outcomes while positioning the Gulf Coast as a global leader in scientific discovery.

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ormed in 2018 and headquartered on the CORE campus in Lakewood Ranch, Florida the BHI features collaborative leadership from the Academy for Brain Health and Performance and Massachusetts General Hospital, a Harvard Medical School Teaching Hospital. Brain health clinicians, researchers, academics, and innovators from across the Harvard system and throughout the state of Florida, as well as national and global collaborators, are engaged in this collective impact effort to support significant positive brain health and performance outcomes for the greater Gulf Coast region and beyond.

Why do we need the BHI? Brain health is health and is about each of us across our lifespan. Brain illness is about most of us. Every day, globally lives are touched by brain health and illness.

Whether it is our own health that is impacted or the lives of those we care about, there is a lot at stake when it comes to promoting brain health and fighting brain illness.

A healthy and optimally performing brain is essential for living a long and fulfilling life. Unfortunately, one out of three Americans will be impacted by brain illness during the course of their lifetime.

By 2030, the World Health Organization estimates that half of the worldwide economic impact of disability will be due specifically to brain-related disability.

Although human life expectancy has increased significantly in recent decades (in the developed world, the number of adults over 65 has surpassed the number of children under 15), data indicates that this extension of lifespan does not correlate

well with the extension of a brain healthy lifespan. As the elderly population is projected to nearly double that of the young by 2050, longitudinal brain health research is urgently needed.

Improving brain health and optimizing performance across the lifespan and reducing risk factors for cognitive decline and brain illness may be the most important health priority of the 21st century, similar to the priority of heart health in the 20th century – which is why the BHI has designed a novel strategy to impact lifelong change at the local, national, and global level.

What is the BHI’s goal?

The mission of the BHI is to: ▶▶ Increase brain health and performance outcomes across the lifespan throughout the greater Gulf Coast region and beyond. ▶▶ Create a brain-healthy community prototype that can be manualized and adopted around the world. ▶▶ Generate discoveries needed to increase brain health protective factors and decrease risk factors globally. ▶▶ Establish infrastructure and platforms that will elevate the Gulf Coast as the “go to” place for brain health scientists, clinicians, innovators, investors and entrepreneurs working across multiple disciplines. ▶▶ Promote and build the Gulf Coast as a scientific leader in brain health discovery and innovation throughout the region, state, nation, and world.

How will the BHI achieve its goal?

The BHI will achieve its mission by: ▶▶ Creating cultures within communities sar asota polo

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that support brain healthy lifestyles in the Florida Gulf Coast region through a collective impact approach that can be measured, manualized and replicated globally. ▶▶ Launching the Brain Health Initiative Longitudinal Study, a multigenerational, epidemiological research study that will follow Gulf Coast residents, visitors, and workforce for decades in order to identify risk and protective factors associated with brain health and performance across the lifespan. ▶▶ Initiating a community-based brain health living laboratory, the Brain Health Innovation Lab: a multidisciplinary community of global researchers, clinicians, engineers (e.g., biomedical, artificial intelligence, robotics, neurotechnology) innovators, investors, and entrepreneurs who will propose and execute clinical trials designed to validate cutting-edge innovations and lifestyle interventions (e.g., sleep, physical activity, nutrition, supplements, stress resilience, cognitive stimulation, social engagement, etc.) as well as to conduct feasibility studies evaluated for commercial scalability. Validation and feasibility studies will be related to solutions intended to impact brain health promotion, prevention, early identification, evidencebased intervention, and performance optimization across the lifespan. Uniquely, the Brain Health Innovation Lab will bring science and innovation into the region where residents, workforce, and visitors live, learn, work and play.

The BHI’s perspective is that brain health IS health and belongs at the forefront of health across the lifespan—not an afterthought when symptoms present.

The social and human cost of brain health and illness to American society as a whole is simply too large to ignore. The BHI is working tirelessly to build cultures and systems of wellness and care that encourage prevention, early identification and breakthroughs to optimize brain health and performance on a large-scale. Solutions will involve knowledgeable communities supporting a culture of brain health and taking action collectively. Join the relentless movement and become a Brain Health Champion. For more information visit www.BrainHealthInitiative.org.

BRAIN HEALTH INITIATIVE Florida gulf coast and beyond

10 pillars

to brain health Stress Resilience Nutrition Physical Activity Sleep Social Connection Cognitive Stimulation Emotional Wellbeing Meaning and Purpose General Health Positive Impacts

www.BrainHealthInitiative.org

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presented by

It’s a Dog’s Life

By Sarah Eakin

O

h boy! It must be food binge day! I can smell the cookout. Time to get into the truck.

‘Hold up! Don’t leave me!’ I hear that truck engine and haul tail...leaving that breakfast burrito on the floor of the tack room half eaten. Man, he nearly forgot me again! I know he has his head in the game, so it is up to me to make sure that I am ready to go. But, last time he had to leave without me, and I had to run from the barn across the grass to get to the food fest. It was not easy with all of those horses trying to run me over. I heard a lot of whistling too. I could not figure out if they were whistling for me to come or go but, in the end, it sure seemed like they wanted me out of there.

Okay. We are finally here. He did not forget me this time, but I have to watch out that I do not end up running around with those horses again or he will for sure be tying me up to the front of the truck like he did last time. I know he has my best interests at heart, but some things are just too good to miss out on. I am better off staying here for a minute, until he is not looking. Then, I can sneak off to those cars over

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there. That is where the food is. But you have to time it just right. If you go too early, you are stuck snacking on vegetables and dip. You want to show up when the meat is coming off the grill, with your game face on, and all of the humans are like ‘Oh, how cute!’ and start cutting the fat off the steak, leaving a decent amount of beef in the process, and feeding you like you are homeless. After that, it is time to find a place to chill out. I better keep away from those tires!

But wait! There is another guy over there. He is tied to the tent. Must be a rookie. I heard there were a few new dogs at the club this year. Looks kind of young too. Better go over and check to make sure that he is okay. Dog code and all that. I will give him a few pointers, like do not lift your leg on those long thin poles, and do not chase the white ball or you will end up as horse roadkill. Turns out he is the new club mascot! ‘Get out of here,’ I said. He is training to be a guide dog - he helps people who cannot see, by seeing for them. How cool is that! He reckons he is going to be coming out here to the club quite often. I am sure he and I will be best friends. I told him my name and he said his name is ‘Mason Chukker’. He seemed pretty pleased about it.

No way! There is a scent of Uncle Charlie around here. I have known him since I was a puppy, locked in the first stall of the barn. He used to come by and check on me and my brothers and sisters. There he is on the back of that pick-up truck. Man, has he gained a few pounds! He must spend his days sitting around, doing nothing. He used to be the first one out on the track every day, chasing those horses around and around that sandy loop. Then, he figured out long before the rest of us, that they are not going anywhere, and if you sit at the start you can just keep watching them all go by until they come back to the finish.

Meanwhile, we would be worn out and head back for nap time in the hay bales - unless the barn cats are around.

Vicious creatures in my experience. I have watched others crash and burn as they try to put them in their place. Not me. I learnt my lesson early, and if I ever begin to forget, I have a scratch on my nose to remind me!

Best not lie down in a stall with those horses either. Man, they are great and pretty harmless as long as you do not snap at their heels. But they are huge, and you do not want to get in the way of them and their food at meal time. They change moods in an instant; one minute, sar asota polo

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they are chilling in a corner with their lip flopping, enjoying the view. The next, with a simple rattle of a feed bucket, their ears become pinned to the backs of their heads. I never really figured out why they make such a big deal about it. The food, I mean. It looks kind of like the stuff they give rabbits - I know because I tried some once - and there is literally no meat. Aside from that, horses are cool and I have made some good buddies over the years.

They have an easy gig, and get way more attention than us dogs do. Not that I am complaining. Who wants a hosepipe bath every day? They seem to like it though.

That, and running around out there on

presented by

the field for no apparent reason. They do not even try to catch and bring back the ball. I do not get it.

Horses, in my opinion, are not that bright. They scare too easily. Not like me and my homies. There is a bunch of us that hang out after the horses have stopped running about the track. Even the rookies get a chance to be let off the leash. Sometimes there is a frisbee or two to chase after, and the Jack Russell’s are always the fastest. But with their really short legs, some of us taller guys are able to eventually get in on the action. Even when you have caught the frisbee, they never give up and you are better

off getting the heck out of there before they start yapping and trying to make you drop it.

None of us are the same. Well, me and Uncle Charlie are related, and there are quite a few of my cousins about I am pretty sure. But not all of us have family.

There are a few in the club that have once lived on the streets, or maybe come from the pound, or maybe even been picked up off the side of the road. We know we have it good after hearing some of the stories that the others tell. Us polo dogs have loads of downtime, plenty of food options, a great selection of friends, and tons of land to run about. Our owners are also usually 41

pretty laid back. They tend to be more worried about what those horses are up to then what us dogs are doing.

Hang on‌I have to go! The truck is starting up. After riding around all afternoon on that field, I hope he is happy. If there is something shiny in the back seat of the truck, that means there will be steaks on the grill tonight! If not, I will somehow manage to find out where the real party is, and that will be the barn that I will be visiting tonight!

Because where there is a party, there is a great selection of tasty food, and humans happy enough to share them with a cute pup like me!

he t d n a olo

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y r a t i l i M y r o t s i H d e i r o t S d n a akin E g h a n r a o S L y B A

Polo was originally used to simulate warfare and implement strategy.

The tribes of ancient Asia would compete through matches and even celebrate battlefield victories. The primitive versions of the game were anarchic undertakings, and there is a legend of replacing the ball with the use of chopped off heads of enemies.

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Polo and the Military

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world’s first formal polo club was founded in Calcutta, India.

The modern-day version of the game emerged when polo was brought over to England in 1869 and then exported to the United States in 1876, thanks to American sportsman James Gordon Bennett. In 1874, the rules of polo were established by the Hurlingham Polo Association, forming a sport that closely resembles today’s version of the game.

The sport of polo has been loved by many famous dignitaries.

Winston Churchill learned to play the sport while attending the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst and, when commissioned as a second lieutenant into the 4th Queen’s Own Hussars, he became a regular on the polo field. Churchill played on the regimental team in the Inter-Regimental Cup - the oldest polo tournament in the world - when it was held in Meerut, India in 1899. A mishap disembarking a ship at quayside in Bombay while traveling with his regiment caused an injury to his right shoulder.

Because of the damage caused by the injury, Churchill was forced to secure his arm to his waist during play in order to avoid displacement and further damage. He continued playing until 1927, when he retired at the age of 52.

or centuries, polo’s history has been entwined with the military. The sport of polo originated in Persia some 2,500 years ago and was adopted by both leaders and royalty as a pastime. Polo was also used as a training method for the cavalry, as it was found to be an effective method of simulating warfare and implementing military strategy. Carved in stone by an ancient polo field along the Silk Road of China, an oft-quoted tablet epitomized the status of the sport: “Let people play at other things. The King of Games is still the Game of Kings.”

The first known polo match was said to have been played in 600 B.C. between the Persians and the Turkomans. The primitive versions of the game were anarchic undertakings and, according to legend, the severed head of enemies were used in replacement of a ball.

Polo began its spread across Asia with the help of the marauding Mongol tribes, who helped bring polo to both India and China. Social changes in the 16th century threatened to erase the sport, yet polo’s survival along the Indian frontier proved fortuitous in its adoption by the British as the Raj expanded. The 43

With some 90 military players in the U.S. currently, polo in the Armed forces lives on. This fall, the national Commander-in-Chief tournament took place in Texas for the second year running and looks set to continue on an annual basis.

Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th President of the U.S., was also a military polo player, and his participation is honored in the Teddy Roosevelt Tournament held in San Antonio, Texas. The once-annual tournament, which draws teams from the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force and Coast Guard, is now being played on a biennial basis in conjunction with the civilian high-goal Townsend Cup International Arena Tournament, also known as the ”Churchill-Roosevelt Cup.” Polo became a stalwart of the U.S. Army after World War I, as they became increasingly reliant on

horsepower. Construction began on indoor arenas across the country to make training and preparation for the sport possible. In the heyday of the 1930’s, it is estimated that approximately 1,500 military players were involved in the sport of polo.

This did not last for long, unfortunately. When World War II began, polo in Europe practically disappeared, as the trained horses previously used for polo were pulled from the sport and called to the line of duty. It took decades for Europe to fully recover the sport.

The polo revival officially began in sar asota polo

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1992 with the arrival of British Major Johnny Rogers, who was assigned to station in Fort Knox, Kentucky. He managed to garner enough interest to put together a polo team of British military members, all of which were interested in playing against the local polo club in Louisville, Kentucky.

The exchange between Rogers’ British Military team and the American East Coast civilian polo club started a tradition. To share the expense and labor of hosting the tournament, the two countries decided to switch off as hosts. After hosting the British team for the inaugural year, the U.S. civilian

Polo and the Military

The modern day version of the game emerged after polo was brought over to England in 1869 and exported to the U.S. in 1876 thanks to American sportsman James Gordon Bennett. In 1874, the rules of polo were established by the Hurlingham Polo Association forming a sport that closer resembles today’s version of the game and was quickly adopted by British cavalry regiments.

players made the voyage to England the following year to play and, over the course of the relationship, were offered the opportunity to play at such military-based polo clubs as Tidworth and Guards.

In addition to his success in reviving polo in both Britain and America, Major Rogers was also instrumental in securing the British Army’s agreement to play a match against the U.S. Military in Washington, D.C.. The match, which occurred in September of 1992, was organized by retired army Major Mark Gillespie, whose involvement with horses, and later polo, began at the United States Military Academy at West Point and

continued while studying at Graduate School at Yale. Major Gillespie played polo all over the world and, later in his career, became a successful polo coach.

He is now Vice Chairman of the United States Polo Association’s (USPA) Armed Forces Committee.

Players were eager to be a part of this new and exciting concept. And so were sponsors. Maker’s Mark, a bourbon distillery based in Kentucky, provided cases of bourbon as support of the tournament. While the community came out in great numbers to support the event, unfortunately Mother Nature had other plans. A hurricane hit the East Coast, causing significant damage, and left the fields too wet for play. The British Military players returned home without playing, but returned again in 1994 to play out the highly-contested international match.

While the hurricane prevented play, it did not stop the action from happening entirely. Attention turned to Maker’s Mark’s generous sponsorship of the event, and encouraged other whiskey-fueled conversations. A two-week polo invitation to India was issued to both teams, followed by a similar invite from Chile with a reciprocal visit for the Chilean military players to visit Washington, D.C. The Argentinians also subsequently joined.

With international polo making a name for itself, polo in the U.S. also continued its rise as a sport until September 11th, 2001, when many military personnel were 45

pulled into active duty, but fortunately picked up again in 2008. Today, there are an estimated 90 military polo players in the U.S. This past fall, the national Commander-In-Chief tournament took place in Texas for the second year and is expected to continue on an annual basis.

Unlike some of its counterparts in other countries - notably India, Pakistan, Chile and Argentina - U.S. Military polo players are not backed by their institutions, making the longevity of military polo significantly more challenging. But, as the saying goes, “where there is a will, there is a way.”

The continued interaction between nations’ armed forces on the polo field continues to have a positive influence on the sport. “It is a demonstration of the power of polo,” said Major Gillespie. “It can promote military relations around the world.”

f o t r a E TH g n i t a g l tai d le va ri un is e er osph m at te ga il ta Sarasota Polo Club’s ide grilling in parking lots outs th wi g in at ilg ta te cia so as Many people y histor y of combining th ng le a ve ha ns fa lo po t of football stadiums, bu This is especially true at t. or sp od go a th wi es tim good food and good e up well in advance of the lin s er at ilg ta e er wh , ub Cl the Sarasota Polo they atch ends, simply because m a r te af s ur ho ay st d an g gates openin t, it is difficult to find os m r Fo h. uc m so e er th d enjoy the time they spen ul Sunday afternoon. tif au be a d en sp to y wa r a bette

By Daniel Paulling

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he hosting opportunities for Floridians are typically less frequent in the winter months -- that is, unless you live close enough to the Sarasota Polo Club to enjoy one of the premier tailgating scenes. “It is really our favorite wintertime activity,” said Crissa Gillette, who has been tailgating at the Sarasota Polo Club for seven years with her husband, Tony Hawkins, and their son, Laughlin Gillette. “It combines our two passions in life: horses and entertaining friends.”

Her family usually arrives at 11 a.m. for a 1 p.m. match in order to have enough time to set up, starting with the bar so that she and her fellow tailgaters can enjoy their first round of cocktails. Gillette jokes that the one thing she loves most about polo is that it is an excuse to have a cocktail on a Sunday morning.

Not far down the tailgate line from the Gillette family, Nick Drizos backs into his spot and begins setting up his tailgate space.

He has been tailgating at the Sarasota Polo Club for about 20 years, using the matches as an opportunity to entertain clients of his local business.

For Drizos, pulling off a successful polo tailgate requires planning.

At the beginning of each season, he spends time going through inventory lists to make sure he has enough bottles of water, cups, plates and whatever else might be needed for the upcoming months.

Nick usually starts planning the tailgate for a Sunday match the Monday before.

Food, of course, plays a vital role in tailgating, whether it involves cooking something at home, picking up something tasty from Publix or having a restaurant cater the meal. “There is not one way, shape or form to tailgate at Sarasota Polo,” Drizos said. “You can have people with white tablecloths and beautiful spreads, and you can have people who set a table up and get something as simple as Popeye’s. It really comes down to whatever works best for you in your tailgate spot.”

“Each crowd [you invite] has a little bit of a different vibe, if you will. Sometimes you get the crowd and there’s kids, and you

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The St. Patrick’s Day tailgate theme brings out green costumes and ornamented animals.

focus on the kids of course. A lot of times, you tell the people to come have lunch, and they’ve already eaten.

If your tailgaters don’t eat your food, other friends will. Many times when we don’t even tailgate; we know we’re going to have a good meal because we’re going to our friends’ spots.”

Themed tailgates, such as St. Patrick’s Day or Valentine’s Day, can add another layer of planning in terms of costumes and decorations. Gillette’s entire tailgate crew was decked out in Elvis costumes for a Viva Las Vegas theme, and they even hung up a Viva Las Vegas banner at their tailgate space.

Because of their unique proximity to the field, veteran polo tailgaters know to keep their eyes peeled for the ball at all times. Even though there is an eight-inch wooden board and an approximately 20-foot buffer zone between the field and the tailgaters, accidents can happen. But those are rare at the Sarasota Polo Club.

“You get that many people are out there and not everyone pays attention and not everyone realizes, yes,

there’s still a polo match going on,” Drizos said. “The announcer in the Pavilion really does a phenomenal job monitoring. A lot of times you’ll hear the announcer say, ‘Get people back! Get people back!’ We’re [also] very blessed to have good players who keep the ball in the field of play.”

How close the tailgaters are gives them a great opportunity to enjoy the game of polo. “When you’re out there and you see a long shot, you close your eyes, you’re so close, you feel the ground shaking,” Drizos said. “You can feel the thundering hooves. It’s exhilarating.”

At halftime, while the horses and players are taking a breather, the field becomes open to all of the spectators for the longstanding tradition of “divot stomping.” Everyone is encouraged to get off of their feet and walk around the field, stomping down the divots of turf that were kicked up by the horses’ hooves during the first three chukkers of play. The Sarasota Polo Club also has a few of its own halftime traditions, including Clydesdale wagon rides and the chance to take a shot on goal while sitting atop one of the wooden hitting horses.

After fifteen minutes, the players, horses and umpires start making their way back onto the field, signaling the end of halftime. Spectators must clear the field so that the remaining three chukkers can be played.

Drizos and Gillette both love what happens at around 3 p.m. when the match ends - the opportunity to play on the field, whether it involves throwing a football or frisbee amongst friends or flying a kite.

“That’s when the relaxing part starts for us,” Gillette said. “We’re done entertaining, and it’s now a chance for us to sit back with our friends. Our kids can run around in a really nice, safe, family-oriented environment where the kids feel like they have some autonomy.”

They both say it is not uncommon for them to spend an extra two or three hours at their tailgate spaces.

“It’s dark, and you’re like, ‘Whoa, I’ve been here way too long,’” Drizos said. “There’s no ending. It’s great. It’s just an incredible day.”

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I

Tips to Tailgating

f you are a newbie when it comes to tailgating at the Sarasota Polo Club, Nick has some advice for you that he has learned over the twenty-something years that he has been coming to Sunday Polo.

• Know the Limits: A ticket grants tailgaters access to a specific spot, which Drizos said is important to adhere to. “My best advice is to just respect the boundaries of your tailgate space,” he said.

• Watch the Match: You might become distracted by the delicious food and drinks in your tailgate space, but it is very important to watch the match because you do not want to miss out on all of the great action. “It is an incredible opportunity to bring our clients, friends and/or family for a wonderful day to see professional polo that we are lucky enough to have in our own backyard,” Drizos said. “It’s just a wonderful and fast-paced sport, and who doesn’t love horses?”

• Go With What You Like: There is no one great way to put together a tailgate.

Just go with what you like.

“Really, it’s custom,” Drizos said.

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Saddle & Sail Cocktail

A

re you in need of some inspiration for a tasty cocktail to bring to your Sarasota Polo Club tailgate this season?

Do not worry! We’ve got you covered. This year’s official beverage is the Sarasota Saddle & Sail Cocktail. Below is the recipe required to make a half gallon pitcher of this refreshing signature drink.

Enjoy it with your friends while reveling in the thrilling action of Sarasota Polo.

16oz• 16oz• 8oz • 8oz •

• 16 • • • • •

Nautical Gin pineapple juice Natalie’s Lime Juice Finest Call Prickly Pear Syrup dashes of angostura bitters

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Sidelines Thousands of spectators congregate on the sidelines each Sunday at the Sarasota Polo Club to cheer on our players and tailgate with friends and family.

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THE

GREEN BEACH

The Vibrant Fields of the Sarasota Polo Club

By Abby Weingarten

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dream-worthy field makes a polo match, and maintaining its quality is an art form. The caliber of the field is crucial to the success of the players, the horses and the club itself.

Ronnie Jeglie, the field manager at the Sarasota Polo Club, knows this firsthand. Along with field consultant Phil McLlelan and two other professionals, Jeglie keeps the 150 acres of the Club’s polo grounds fresh and vibrant.

“We like to refer to the Sarasota Polo Club as sar asota polo

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The Green Beach, because it’s a way to get out with the family, enjoy the outdoors and tailgate without having to drive from Lakewood Ranch all the way to the beach,” says Ron Trytek, Director of Sales and Marketing at the Sarasota Polo Club. “Other than coming for the matches, people will just come here to let the kids run around the field. It’s very safe.”

Part of what makes this “green beach” so safe is what goes into its care—everything from irrigation and mowing to aerating, carefully treating the ground with herbicides and pesticides, and keeping the roots and grass healthy.

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The Green Beach is maintained with an irrigation system, mowing, and aerating, along with herbicide and pesticide treatments.

“How safe the field is and how well it plays is all about the maintenance, and that takes a lot of time,” Trytek says. “The roots have to be strong. If you don’t have good roots, it tears up the field and it’s not safe for the horses. We’ve worked hard to make sure the grass is mowed at the correct length, and John Deere does a lot of our mowing to help with that.”

The rest is up to Jeglie and his crew, and it is an intense workload.

A typical polo field is about 300 yards long, 160 yards wide, and almost 10 acres in size (the largest field in organized sports). A polo field is vastly different from human sport fields. Generally, the fields need to be kept slightly longer than the grass in other sports fields in order to create more friction.

Before the polo season starts, fields are top-dressed with sand to prevent the polo ponies from slipping.

The rules of the polo game exist to protect the

ponies’ legs, and the care of the field needs to uphold that level of caution. It is also important to take care of the pre- and post-match field maintenance, allowing the crowd to stomp out the divots at halftime.

For Jeglie’s people, a typical day of fieldwork is anything but typical. They take care of 90 acres of polo fields, including 60 acres of common ground (barns, parking areas and beyond).

“We always have to know what’s going on the next day so we can prepare for that,” Jeglie says.

That all depends on the game schedule, the weather and every other imaginable variable factor.

“It is a 24-hour process. The fields get mowed every three days. We have John Deere here and they have test units so they do most of the mowing, especially in the summer, which is a big plus,” Jeglie says. “As wintertime comes, they don’t have as many units so we do a lot of the mowing ourselves.

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We maintain the grounds around the field. There’s a lot of grass to be cut and a lot of weeding to do. Summer can be tough without rain or when there’s too much rain. It’s always a challenge.”

The crew aerates the fields every three weeks in the summer and only spray pesticides as needed (as Jeglie is not big on poison).

“We spend the summer preparing, getting the grass as healthy as we can.

We also put in a new track last year, a half-mile around, to exercise the horses, and it’s probably one of the best tracks in the United States,” Jeglie says. “We have an indoor arena that the horses play polo in, and we have a lot of students who play indoors. In the wintertime, we set up the games, tear them down and get the field ready (put up the goalposts, chalking lines and cones).”

The fields are kept at a ¾-inch height, and strong roots are key, he says.

“You need the grass to tear a little bit but the horse is depending on that to stand up. With good root growth you can have a safe, healthy horse,” Jeglie says. “Polo horses run 25 to 30 miles per hour. The root can go on forever and doesn’t die unless something happens. Once you get a good root structure, you should be able to maintain it for a long time.”

Like root cultivation and maintenance, field irrigation is another intricate process.

“It’s like farming. One end of the field is dryer than the other end. You just have to be on it daily and lay your product,” Jeglie says. “There are big rain gutters above the ground but you lose a lot of water that way, so we’re putting them underground like popups. When there’s a drought, if I had to rely on a rain gutter, I wouldn’t have any grass.

I only have to use a rain gutter on two fields now, as opposed to seven fields, with the new system in place.”

Though Jeglie’s job is taxing and filled with spontaneous water leaks and other random occurrences, he wouldn’t trade it. Dull moments don’t exist and the rewards are many.

From Matches to Maintenance

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The Green Beach fields are kept at a 3/4 –inch height and strong roots are key.

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his is Jeglie’s second year as the Club’s field manager, but he has spent his whole life around polo.

“I played polo professionally for 23 years.

When the Sarasota Polo Club started 27 years ago, we built a lot of the original barns and I would play there in the winter,” says Jeglie, who also runs a management company that maintains 12 locales around the polo fields.

Jeglie even owns a property onsite so he can live and work at the Club.

“I’m one of the first people to live at the Club,” Jeglie says. “Phil and I played polo against each other as young men. When he quit playing, he started doing fieldwork too.”

Being an athlete, Jeglie knows what the players need out of their fields, and he enjoys providing it.

“My enjoyment comes when the players walk off the fields and the guys look at me and go, ‘Wow, the fields are so much better than they were.’

They appreciate good grass they can run their horses on,” Jeglie says. “On a great field, you can play to the best of your abilities. When the guys walk off the field and say it really played well, that means a lot to me. I appreciate that.”

The Women’s Wave in Polo Participation numbers increasing thanks to pioneers in the sport

By Sarah Eakin

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presented by

Women’s polo has come on apace in recent years and over a third of the USPA’s membership is now female. That level of participation in a traditionally male-dominated sport did not come easily and has benefited from several female polo pioneers who have strived to reverse stigmas and push boundaries.

Women and men compete against each other in equestrian sports across the board, so why not polo? Polo is a contact sport to a degree, and even if most of the contact is coming from the 1,000-pound animal that you are sitting on, it is not an undertaking for the fainthearted. It has been dubbed hockey on horseback – during an earthquake. While the physicality may not be as extreme as you find on the ice rink, the nature of the ride-off alone - a common defensive move when one player bumps their horse into the horse of an opponent, using their own shoulders to help impact the play – means you are coming off the polo field, knowing that you’ve been on it.

This premise aside, women have not shied away. The sport has not changed essentially since the modern-day game evolved from the late 1800s, but the attitudes certainly have. No longer do you have to hear a professional player yell at his teammate during a game: “I told you to take a man, not a woman!” as witnessed on the sidelines in the late 80s when women’s polo was just starting to find its feet.

Women’s polo can be sourced back thousands of years. They are referenced in archival material as playing in Persia in the sixth century. A more recent inauguration of the modern-day game can be traced back to the Ranelagh Club in London, England in 1905 when Queen 65

presented by

Alexandra attended a ladies’ match.

Ladies in the 1920s began to ditch the sidesaddle and ride astride. By 1920, a lady player in England boasted a respectable 2-goal handicap having learned to play in Burma. The Brits ostensibly accepted women into the fold with the creation of the Ladies Polo Association in 1938.

That said, it took Claire Tomlinson – one of the world’s leading polo players who attained a 5-goal handicap – to challenge a Hurlingham Polo Association (the sport’s governing body in the UK) ruling stating “no women allowed in high-goal games.”

Once that hurdle was removed in 1979, Tomlinson went on to play for many years in the high goal. Though she was an amateur, she was high enough up the handicap ladder and suitably talented to have been a professional.

Across the pond, it was the pioneering Sue Sally Hale who broke through the establishment and whose daughter, Sunny Hale, later went on to put women in polo at the forefront of the high-goal level. Sue Sally Hale blazed a polo-playing trail in California when women were not admitted to the USPA. Starting to play in the 1940s, she at times disguised herself as a man, but continued to push for equality and was finally admitted to the USPA in 1972. “Going where no woman had gone before, Sue Sally played Sunday polo with the men,” states an introduction to

In 2019, the Sarasota Polo Club hosted the Sarasota Polo Women’s Challenge.

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presented by

Female membership of the USPA has doubled since 2001.

her biography, “The Life and Times of American Polo Pioneer Sue Sally Hale”, written by her daughter, Stormie Hale.

“At times disguising herself as a man, she persevered when she was neither wanted nor accepted, her chosen sport certainly not prepared for her.”

Since the USPA was founded in 1890, American women have graced the field – notably Louise Hitchcock considered “The Mother of Women’s polo” who not only played but taught the game to others from the turn of the century to the early 1930s. In 1972, the USPA had four women members assigned a handicap – one of whom was Sue Sally Hale. Her daughter, Sunny, became an established professional high-goal player. Sunny Hale and Gillian Johnston, as an amateur patron, were the first two women to put their name on the 26-Goal US Open Polo Championship trophy, though the first woman to enter the high Goal in Florida was Vicky Armour. The first woman to play in the Open was Canada’s Julie Roenisch.

Sunny Hale was an American polo professional who played on a team at the bequest of the highest ranked player in the world, Adolfo Cambiaso. That team, featuring the world’s leading man and world’s leading woman, won the US Open, making Sunny the first woman to win the 26-Goal tournament since its inauguration in 1904. At the time of winning, Sunny outranked 96 percent of

players in the world, including men.

By 2001, the female membership of the USPA had grown to 22 percent and has subsequently nearly doubled. Sunny Hale’s inspiration for women players on the field was matched by her inspiration for women’s polo off it. In 2014, with Sunny’s help, the USPA introduced the addition of women’s handicaps for female players.

Women-only polo tournaments were not new, but given that the majority of female players were rated at the lower end of the

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handicap scale – between -2 and 1 goals – the universal handicapping system did not reflect the nuances of skills in that bracket.

The WIPN (the Women’s International Polo Network), a non-profit that does what it says on the tin, has encouraged countries to adopt a uniform women’s handicap system to alleviate confusion on the international playing field. The US, UK and Argentina have established women’s handicap protocols, and other countries, namely Singapore, Australia, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, New Zealand, Thailand and China, have followed suit. This list also serves to illustrate how internationally widespread women’s polo has become.

No longer a battle of the sexes, the polo field is a level one. Women’s polo is on a solid path for the future in its own right because the appeal of the sport is universal. Sue Sally Hale explained it well in this quote taken from the cover of her biography: “I didn’t want to play polo to beat the men,” she said. “That wasn’t the point. The point was, I liked the game. Period.”

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The Gift of

the Groom Behind every successful polo player is a great horse, and behind every great horse is a hardworking and dedicated groom.

By Abby Weingarten

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he job of a groom is not for the faint of heart. It is a tedious, timeconsuming position that requires long hours and ample patience, but the men and women who accept the challenge prove their enduring passion for the profession. Most employers will hire grooms with some horse experience and offer them polo-specific training. Other employers prefer to hire grooms who have experience in polo.

Regardless, being a confident rider who enjoys working with horses is the number one requirement.

The word “groom” is defined as a servant who attends to horses, and dates back to 1667. Grooms work seven days a week, 365 days a year, and they are responsible for the care, training, exercising and feeding of the horses. They work outdoors in extreme temperatures and unpredictable weather conditions. Their role in the sport of polo is huge. There definitely would be no polo without them.

A typical groom’s morning begins around 5 or 6 a.m. and continues for roughly the next 12 hours, depending on what is on the agenda for the day. It can be exhausting, to say the least.

The horses are first fed their breakfast of grain and hay and, while they eat, the groom checks their bodies for any scrapes or injuries that might have occurred during the night. The groom then spends time cleaning the stalls and filling water buckets. When the morning chores are completed, it is time for the groom to get the horses out for their first round of exercise.

The horses usually do a 20-to-25-minute warm-up walk, followed by a 12-minute jog, and then a 12-minute cool-down walk. This exercise routine is performed twice a day, with the second round of exercise completed in the afternoon. Prior to heading out for their exercise, the horses are haltered, their legs are wrapped or booted for protection, and then one of the horses is saddled and bridled for the groom to ride.

Exercising polo horses, which consumes a significant segment of a groom’s day, can be a serious juggle. The exercise is completed in what is called a “set,” which involves riding one horse while leading other horses (sometimes up to four) at the same time. This requires incredible coordination and an understanding of every horse’s personality. Some horses prefer to be led from one side, for example.

Other grooms may be performing the same act simultaneously, on the same grounds, so maneuvering around them can be an additional challenge.

When the exercise routine is complete, it is time for the horses to be bathed and placed back in their stalls. While the horses enjoy some down time, it is time for the groom to complete some other tasks, which includes but is not limited to cleaning tack, doing laundry, and tidying up the barn.

In the early evening, before the groom leaves for the day, the horses are served their dinner and the stalls are cleaned one last time. Many grooms will return in the evening, around 9 p.m., to do one final check of the horses for the night. sar asota polo

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Above: The word “groom” is defined as a servant who attends to horses, and dates back to 1667. Grooms work seven days a week, 365 days a year, and they are responsible for the care, training, exercising and feeding of the horses.

Below: Exercising polo horses, which consumes a significant segment of a groom’s day, can be a serious juggle. The exercise is completed in what is called a “set,” which involves riding one horse while leading other horses (sometimes up to four) at the same time.

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The Last of the

Wild Horses Written By Abby Weingarten Photos By Jeff J. Mitchell

Today, Przewalski’s Horses can only be found in reintroduction sites in Mongolia, China and Kazakhstan. In the wild, they graze on grass and leaves from shrubby trees.

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he last of the truly wild horses, known as Przewalski’s Horses, are small, stocky and heavilybuilt, with large heads, thick necks and short legs. They are dun in color, with yellowishwhite bellies, and a dark zebra-like erect mane.

Running from the mane along the backbone all the way to their dark, plumed tail is a dark stripe called a dorsal stripe. They also have dark lower legs and zebra-like stripes behind their knees.

These critically endangered species are the last wild equines in existence, according to the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute. Once thought to be the ancestors of domestic horses, Przewalski’s Horses are actually distant cousins. Mitochondrial DNA suggests that they diverged from a common ancestor about 500,000 years ago.

These horses once lived throughout Europe and Asia. Competition with humans and livestock, as well as environmental changes, led to the horses moving east to Asia and eventually becoming extinct in the wild. They were last found on the

Many zoos in North America are reporting infertility issues with the horses and, as a result, not many foals have been born in the last ten years.

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Mongolian steppes of the Gobi Desert, where it is extremely dry. Today, they can only be found in reintroduction sites in Mongolia, China and Kazakhstan.

In the wild, Przewalski’s Horses graze on grass and leaves from shrubby trees. Like zebras and donkeys, they are hind-gut fermenters. This means that they need to consume large amounts of water and low-quality food in order to survive.

The horses live as a family network, or a harem, with a dominant stallion watching over mares and their offspring in groups of 5 to 15 horses.

Very little is known about the reproductive physiology of Przewalski’s Horses. Many zoos in North America are reporting infertility issues with the horses and, as a result, not many foals have been born in the last ten years.

Today, the Przewalski’s Horse is considered to be a holy animal by the Mongolians, who call the horse “takhi” which means “spirit” or “worthy of worship.” It is not proper to ride the takhi, stable it or saddle it up; the horse is considered to be too wild for that. While it has been captured and occasionally confined to zoos, it has never been tamed. Today, there are roughly 2,000 takhi in the world, and the largest number of them live at Hustai National Park, which is within 60 miles of Mongolia’s capital, Ulaanbaatar. The country’s wild horses, along with the continuing polo sport in Mongolia, keep the spirit alive and well.

Mongolia’s modern equines are majestic animals that date all the way back to the era of ruler Genghis Khan and have been a part of the culture for generations. As the conservationist J. |

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Tserendeleg once said, “Mongolia is not Mongolia without horses. They are so vital to the Mongolian national identity that the country’s ceremonial banner is made with horsetail hair.

Families breed horses and consider them kin, and use the home-bred horses for both recreation and sports like wrestling, archery, racing, and polo.

The sport of polo itself, of course, began outside Mongolia. Polo is mentioned in Persian texts and artwork from a millennium ago and is believed to have been played in Iran around the 6th century B.C. Traders and warriors took polo across the Silk Road, where it later thrived in India. It became popular in Mongolia when Genghis Khan selected the sport as the primary method used to train his cavalry. In the 13th century, Khan’s units introduced polo to every part of his empire, spanning territory from Korea to Europe. Then, the nation’s polo nearly disappeared.

Mongolia’s landscape, with a population of less than 3,000,000 people, a diverse horse population and a grazing area the size of western Europe, is ideal for the sport of polo. With this in mind, a group of polo enthusiasts have spent the past decade working to bring polo back to the country, giving its modern residents a reason to embrace the sport’s future as well as its intriguing past.

German filmmaker Christopher Giercke, who came to Mongolia in the 1990’s, established the Genghis Khan Polo Club in Orkhon Valley National Park. Giercke, who is married to a Mongolian, is a producer of cashmere in the country. The resurgence of polo in Mongolia is bolstering the present sport’s audience, while giving a nod to the country’s rich history.

Przewalski’s Horses live as a family network, or a harem, with a dominant stallion watching over mares and their offspring in groups of 5 to 15 horses.

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The Majestic Przewalski’s Horse

M

ongolian Wild Horses (or Przewalski’s Horses) were not always part of the Mongolian vocabulary. Przewalski is a Polish word that belongs to Russian explorer Colonel Nikolai Przhevalsky (pronounced shuh-VAL-skee). It was once thought that the Przewalski’s Horse was first "discovered" by Przhevalsky in the 1800’s, but that was later proven to be untrue.

In the 15th century, a German writer named Johann Schiltberger recorded a description of the animal in one of his diaries while traveling through Mongolia. Przewalski’s Horses only became well-known to Western science when Przhevalsky described them in 1881. By 1900, a German merchant named Carl Hagenbeck had captured most of the Przewalski’s Horses. Hagenbeck was a seller of exotic animals, providing them to zoos throughout Europe and for P.T. Barnum’s circus.

By the time Hagenbeck died in 1913, most of the world's Przewalski’s Horses lived in captivity. The wild herds were already suffering from overhunting before Hagenbeck started capturing them, and the remaining few continued to experience habitat losses from particularly harsh winters in the mid-1900’s. One herd, which lived in the Askania-Nova region of Ukraine, was eliminated by German soldiers during World War II. In 1945, only 31 Przewalski’s Horses were left in the world.

They were divided between only two locations - zoos in Munich and Prague. By the end of the 1950’s, only 12 remained. In an attempt to prevent the Przewalski’s Horse from extinction, breeding programs have been established worldwide. Today, there are roughly 2,000 takhi in the world, and the largest number of them live at Hustai National Park, which is within 60 miles of Mongolia’s capital, Ulaanbaatar.

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A Day They’ll

Never Forget Sunshine Kids Fundraiser a Smashing Success

By Abby Weingarten

Dozens of local children with cancer had their days made last spring during a fundraiser at the Sarasota Polo Club. Thirty kids from the Sunshine Kids Foundation, a local nonprofit organization that provides group activities and support to young patients battling cancer, interacted with 10 of the world-famous Budweiser Clydesdales. It was a care-free respite for the children, whose hours are often spent undergoing medical treatments. Over 250 people from the Lakewood Ranch Community also came out to support and enjoy the picnic-style barbecue and had an unforgettable opportunity to get face-to-face with the magnificent horses.

“The Budweiser Clydsedales stabled here for a week last season while they were in town for appearances at several of the major league baseball spring training camps,” said Ron Trytek, Director of Sales & Marketing for the Sarasota Polo Club.

The Budweiser team was gracious enough to donate their time to help put on this event on what would have otherwise been their off-day. They allowed guests to take photos and pet the Clydesdales in their stalls and view them frolicking about in a pasture. The

Budweiser team kindly provided tours of the three large semi-trucks that are used to transport horses and equipment around the world. Also on display for photo opportunities was the antique Budweiser wagon with the iconic Budweiser Dalmatian (named Mary) sitting atop.

“We would not have had such a successful event if it had not been for the generosity of the West Coast Hitch Budweiser Team,” said Trytek.

Many of the Sarasota Polo Club members graciously

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donated to the cost of the event, and the staff for the event was entirely comprised of volunteers in order to ensure that all revenue from the ticket sales and other donations generated could go directly to the Sunshine Kids Foundation. Money was also raised by live auction, where bidding wars took place for two authentic Budweiser Clydesdale horseshoes and a framed inkpad pawtograph from Mary the Dalmatian. Ticket sales and other donations generated $5,000 for the nonprofit.

“It was really a very special evening for Sunshine Kids and the local community,” says Janet Yon, the organizations special projects coordinator. “We had one young man who loves horses, and he had just gotten out of the hospital. His mom drove him all the way from Orlando so he could see the horses. With the use of a walker, the 15-year-old was absolutely thrilled to be there. It took them about 2½ hours to get to the event from where they live, but it was the best drive ever,” he said.

That is the aim of the Sunshine Kids Foundation—to bring children joy. The organization was founded in 1982 by Rhoda Tomasco while she was serving as a volunteer in the pediatric cancer unit of a Texas hospital. After seeing the loneliness and depression among children during their extended hospital stays, Tomasco had a vision to provide the patients with opportunities to participate in positive group activities, ones that promoted self-esteem, personal accomplishment and old-fashioned fun.

Today, that vision has been realized, as thousands of children from hospitals across the country have reaped the benefits of the organizations local, regional and national

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Broker Participation is welcomed and encouraged. ORAL REPRESENTATIONS CANNOT BE RELIED UPON AS CORRECTLY STATING REPRESENTATIONS OF THE SELLER. FOR CORRECT REPRESENTATIONS, MAKE REFERENCE TO THE DOCUMENTS REQUIRED BY SECTION 718.503, FLORIDA STATUTES, TO BE FURNISHED BY A SELLER TO A BUYER OR LESSEE. This project has been filed in the state of Florida and no other state. This is not an offer to sell or solicitation of offers to buy the condominium units in states where such offer or solicitation cannot be made. Prices and availability are subject to change at any time without notice.

events. Funded by personal contributions, corporations and foundations, the organization provides all of its activities (as well as transportation, lodging and food) completely free of charge to the children, their families and their attending medical staff.

The organization gives some quality of life to children with cancer by “providing them with exciting, positive group activities so they may once again do what kids are meant to do: have fun and celebrate life,” Yon says. in TV commercials That is what the for Budweiser beer, Clydesdale fundraiser set particularly in their Super out to do.

Bowl ads. The Dalmatian “The kids absolutely is the Budweiser Clydesdales made their first appearance in 1933, to loved the event, and they Clydesdale mascot and celebrate the repeal of the prohibition of beer. are still talking about it. has been traveling with Our youngest attendee the horses since the 1950s. was 3 and the oldest was 16, and it was just A Clydesdale is a special breed of horse incredible for them,” Yon says. “We would that is tender in nature and excellent with love to do another fundraising event with the crowds. This type of draft horse is named Sarasota Polo Club; it is so calming there and for the farm horses of Clydesdale, a region of the horses are so wonderful. If we didn’t have Scotland. Typically bay in color, the horses fundraisers like that, we wouldn’t have the show significant white markings due to funds to support our programs. That’s the the presence of their sabino genetics (white only way we raise money. We don’t have any spotting patterns in equines). A full, matured government money, so we look for grants in Clydesdale weighs 1,800 to 2,300 pounds the local communities.” and its horseshoe measures 20 inches. They To Yon, the Club’s fundraiser was the are gentle giants and always loved by children “perfect example of how fundraising should like the Sunshine Kids. work.” And it is not uncommon for the “We are so grateful for the Clydesdale Clydesdales to participate in activities just event. We raised funds and the kids got to like that. enjoy it at the same time. You can’t get much The Anheuser-Busch Brewing Company better than that,” Yon says. “We’re bringing regularly uses the Budweiser Clydesdales sunshine to kids with cancer and that’s for promotions, commercials and events. exactly what we did. We try to give them a There are several teams of horses that travel couple hours of fun where they can be a kid all around the United States. Assorted again and not think about what they’re Clydesdales are also used as animal actors going through.”

5

Fun Facts about the Budweiser Clydesdales

1 2

Clydesdales are massive horses.

They drink 30 gallons of water and consume 50 pounds of hay daily.

Many of the Clydesdales owned

by Anheuser-Busch are raised at Grant’s Farm near St. Louis, Missouri. The stables house about 35 mares, stallions and foals, with an average of 15 foals produced each year. Anheuser-Busch owns approximately 250 Clydesdales, which are kept at various locations throughout the United States (one of the largest herds of Clydesdale horses in the world).

3

The largest breeding facility is at Missouri’s Warm Springs Ranch.

The three Clydesdale teams that tour the world are based near the company's brewing facilities in St. Louis; Fort Collins, Colorado; and Merrimack, New Hampshire.

The company also buys high-quality Clydesdales from other sources. The Clydesdales were previously showcased at Busch Gardens. But after InBev sold the amusement parks, the link to the Budweiser Clydesdales ended in 2009.

4

It was actually in 1933 that the horses made their first appearance, to celebrate the repeal of the prohibition of beer. Recognizing the advertising and promotional potential of a horse-drawn beer wagon, Busch Sr. had the team sent by rail to New York City, where it picked up two cases of Budweiser beer at New Jersey's Newark Airport and presented it to Al Smith (the former governor of New York).

5

From there, the Clydesdales continued on a tour of New England and the mid-Atlantic states—a journey that included the delivery of a case of beer to President Franklin D. Roosevelt at the White House. The Clydesdales’ appearances have made a splash ever since.

The Sunshine Kids Foundation: 5137 Castello Dr., Suite 1, Naples, FL 239-919-8867, sunshinekids.org. sar asota polo

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2020 Player SPotlight

We Salute our Players It is through the players’ dedication and commitment to the sport that Sarasota Polo is able to provide residents of our area with the most exhilarating sport played today.

5 Goal

4 goal

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South Africa

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Slade Sharpsteen

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Every story and every photo we publish in print and online is truly local.

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There’s a reason polo is called “the fastest game on four feet.” Since 1991, the Sarasota Polo Club has been providing exhilarating polo matches every Sunday through the winter. With Clydesdale wagon rides, tailgating, halftime entertainment, and divot stomping, the Sarasota Polo Club is the perfect place for a family outing.

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From the $600s to over $3 million THE LAKE CLUB INFORMATION CENTER: 8307 Lake Club Blvd., Lakewood Ranch, FL 34202 | (941) 907-9088 | thelakeclublwr.com ANCHOR BUILDERS | ARTHUR RUTENBERG HOMES | JOHN CANNON HOMES | LEE WETHERINGTON HOMES STOCK SIGNATURE HOMES | STOCK CUSTOM HOMES BROKER PARTICIPATION WELCOMED. ORAL REPRESENTATIONS CANNOT BE RELIED UPON AS CORRECTLY STATING THE REPRESENTATIONS OF THE DEVELOPER. FOR CORRECT REPRESENTATIONS REFERENCE SHOULD BE MADE TO THE DOCUMENTS REQUIRED BY SECTION 718.503, FLORIDA STATUTES, TO BE FURNISHED BY A DEVELOPER TO A BUYER OR LESSEE. NOT AN OFFERING WHERE PROHIBITED BY STATE LAW. PRICES SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE.

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LET THE GA M ES GO ON The sporting culture is a big part of life at Lakewood Ranch. When we’re not on the polo field, you’ll find friends and neighbors at Lakewood Ranch Golf & Country Club, enjoying our world-class golf, tennis, fitness, dining and club facilities. Schedule a tour to take advantage of our 60-day VIP membership.

54 Holes Of Florida’s Finest Golf | State-Of-The-Art Golf Academy | 2 Award-Winning Clubhouses Two Golf Practice Facilities | New App For Booking Tee Times, Logging Your Scores And Dining Reservations A Full Social Calendar | 20-Court Tennis Center | 12 Pickleball Courts | 24-Hour Fitness Center 70 Weekly Fitness Classes | Two Heated Pools | Bocce Ball and Tournament Croquet Courts | Kids' Camps

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USPA Governor’s cup

January 13, 2019

Winner Wrigley media group

Raj Singh, Josh Shelton, Herndon Radcliff, James Miller Trophy Presented by Katie Whaley

Radcliff MVP herndon wrigley Media group

8-GOAL

Wayne Brown Memorial

February 10, 2019

Winner Whiskey Pond

Brent Hamill, Slade Sharpsteen, Buck Schott, Nick Johnson Trophy Presented by Maduro Cigar

chamberlain MVP holly First on site/PDM

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Robert A. Uihlein, Jr. Memorial Cup March 29, 2019

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Host your next private party at the Sarasota Polo Club From pig roasts to champagne toasts, our Club is available to host a variety of events.

– Corporate Outings – Weddings – – Fundraising Events – Private Parties – – Catering – Cash or Hosted Bar, Venues available for 25 to 2,000 guests

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Commander-in-Chief Cup March 24, 2019

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January 31 February 28 March 13 March 27

MAIN HEADQUARTERS 1751 Cattelmen Rd Sarasota, FL 34232 MAIN HEADQUARTERS 1751 Cattelmen Rd Sarasota, FL 34232

MAIN HEADQUARTERS: 1751 Cattlemen Rd, Sarasota, FL 34232 MAIN HEADQUARTERS: Cattlemen Sarasota, FL MAIN HEADQUARTERS: 17511751 Cattlemen Rd.,Rd,Sarasota, FL34232 34232 DOWNTOWN SARASOTA: 801 Apricot Ave, Sarasota, FL 34237 DOWNTOWN SARASOTA: Apricot Ave,Sarasota, Sarasota, FL 237 DOWNTOWN SARASOTA: 801 801 Apricot Ave., FL 34 34237

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2019

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6-Goal | USPA Governor’s Cup

8-Goal | Wayne Brown Memorial

6-Goal | Ringling Cup

12-Goal Robert A. Uihlein, Jr. Memorial Cup

USPA National Inter-Circuit Final

USPA 8-Goal Constitution Cup

Peca | Herndon Radcliff

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YEAR END AWARDS Proudly Presented by club owner James Miller

Awards proudly accepted by Jack Shelton

Most Valuable Player

Groom’s Award

Joe Wayne Barry

Amanda “Mannie” Shelton

Most Improved Player

Bobby Barry Memorial Umpire Award

Raj Singh

Jamie Mirikitani

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Neil M. Chur Horsemanship Award

Josh Shelton

“Spirit of Polo” Sportsmanship Award

Kelly Beck

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Compendium of Polo A Brief History and Trivia of the Sport of Kings

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Just like in other sports, polo players can draw a foul if they act in a way which the umpire deems dangerous to the play. Typically, a penalty shot is given to the opposing team.

Depending on the severity of the foul, the penalty shot may be taken from several locations, with the closest penalty shot being awarded 30 yards away from the goal line.

29 28

On average, a 1,000-lb. horse will eat approximately 29 pounds of hay a day.

The first cup of the Americas, involving the United States and Argentina, was played in 1928 at Meadow Brook.

100,000 spectators were in attendance. The U.S. won, and won again in 1932, but Argentina has been victorious in every other meeting since.a

27 26

The average speed a horse can gallop is 27 miles per hour (44 kilometers per hour).

The average number of teeth a horse has is 26. Within the first two weeks of life, foals erupt 12 baby teeth. By nine months of age, 12 more baby teeth have erupted. Canine (or bridle teeth) erupt at about 4-5 years in male horses. They also erupt in about 20-25 percent of mares and are usually smaller than those found in males.

25 24 23

Horses drink at least 25 gallons of water a day. Those in hotter climates, like Florida, or those in active competition, like polo, will likely drink much more than that.

Polo was an Olympic sport from 1900 to 1936. In the Olympic Games held in Paris, France in 1924, Argentina won the first gold medal in the country’s history.

Michael Jordan, one of the best basketball players ever, wore the jersey No. 23. His polo equivalent, Adolfo Cambiaso of Argentina, is currently ranked first in the world with a 10-goal handicap rating.

22 21 20

An adult horse’s brain weighs on average 22 ounces, which is about half the weight of a human brain.

Horses’ heights are measured in a unit known as “hands.”

One hand is equivalent to 4 in. The tallest horse on record is a Shire named Sampson, who was 21.2 hands tall.

The British are credited with spreading polo worldwide in the early 20th century. When polo arrived in the United States, polo changed to become a high-speed sport, differing greatly from the game in England, where it involves short passes to move the ball towards the opposing goal.

19

The world’s largest horse is a purebred Belgian stallion named Brooklyn Supreme. He stood 19.2hh (6’6”) at his withers and weighed more than 3,200 pounds. He is currently entered in the Guinness Book of World Records.

18 17 16

The first polo club was established in the town of Silchar in Assam, India, in 1833.

The smallest recorded horse is Thumbellina, a miniature horse standing at 17 in. (4.25 hands) tall.

Polo is played professionally in 16 countries: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Dominican Republic, France, Germany, Iran, India, New Zealand, Mexico, Pakistan, Jamaica, Spain, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

15

The game of polo has had a strong presence in the northwestern areas of present-day Pakistan (including Gilgit, Chitral, Hunza, and Baltisan) since at least the 15th century.

14 13

Any horse shorter than 14.2 hands (58 in. tall at the withers) is considered a pony.

On May 13, 1876, the Jerome Park Racetrack in Westchester County (now Bronx County) was the site of the first American outdoor polo match.

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It takes an average of 12 months to re-grow an entire horse hoof from start to finish. That’s why it’s so important to take care of their feet!

The human heart weighs about 11 oz., and is about the size of a clenched fist. A horse’s heart typically weighs close to 11 lbs., and is about the size of a basketball.

Argentina is notably the country with the largest number ever of 10 handicap players in the world.

The mallet head is generally made of a hardwood called tipa and is just over 9 in. long.

The number of chukkers in a polo match varies, but the maximum number is 8. The minimum number is 4.

In Manipur, polo is traditionally played with 7 players on each team. The players are mounted on the indigenous Manipuri pony. There are no goal posts; a goal is made simply by hitting the ball over the end line of the field. Players strike the ball with the long side of the mallet head, not the end. Players are not permitted to carry the ball, although blocking the ball with any part of the body except the open hand is permitted.

6 5

Polo ponies reach their peak of athleticism and training at the age of 6. However, without any accidents, polo ponies have the ability to play until they are 20 years old.

Cowboy polo, which is played almost exclusively in the western United States, involves teams of five riders on a dirt surface. Teams of three riders are required for beach and snow polo.

4

The player who wears the No. 4 jersey is the primary defense player. They are allowed to move anywhere on the field, but they usually try to prevent the other team from scoring.

3

The player who wears the No. 3 jersey is the tactical leader, and must be a powerful hitter to feed balls to player Nos. 2 and 1. Player No. 3 must also be a solid defenseman. Typically, player No. 3 wields the highest handicap of the team, and tends to be the overall best player of the team.

2

The player who wears the No. 2 jersey plays an important role in offense, either running through and scoring themselves or passing to player No. 1 and getting in behind them. Defensively, player No. 2 will cover the opposing team’s No. 3.

1

The player who wears the No. 1 jersey is the most offenseoriented player. Defensively, player No. 1 will generally cover the opposing team’s No. 4.

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Chukker Southeastern Guide Dogs and the Sarasota Polo Club Introduce the 2020 Sarasota Polo Season Mascot - Mason Chukker

S

arasota Polo fans, meet Mason Chukker, our 2020 Sarasota Polo Season Mascot.

Mason Chukker is an adorable, bundle-of-energy, 9-month-old yellow Labrador Retriever who is training to be a future guide or service dog for Southeastern Guide Dogs in Palmetto, FL. An interesting note about Mason Chukker’s name; a polo match is typically divided into six periods of play called, “chukkers.”

Mason Chukker will be joining us onsite at Sunday Polo periodically throughout our polo season, while he’s learning basic manners, obedience and social skills on his way to becoming a life-changing guide dog for someone with vision loss or a service dog for a veteran with PTSD or other disabilities. Mason Chukker was born and bred at Southeastern Guide Dogs to do great things and when he’s about 2 years old, Mason Chukker will return to the Palmetto Southeastern Guide Dogs campus to complete his formal training at Canine University. We’re proud to share a part of Mason Chukker’s journey with our Sarasota Polo fans, as he grows into a well-rounded sportsman, and eventually becomes a life-changing superhero.

Sarasota Polo kids, when you meet Mason Chukker at Sunday Polo this season you may ask for his trading card and “paw-to-graph” or if you would

Sarasota Polo Club kids can take home a Mason Chukker stuffed animal by visiting the Sarasota Polo Gift Shop.

All proceeds will benefit Southeastern Guide Dogs.

like to take Mason Chukker home with you, you may visit the Sarasota Polo Gift Shop to take home a Southeastern Guide Dogs, Mason Chukker stuffed animal, and all proceeds will benefit Southeastern Guide Dogs.

About Southeastern Guide Dogs: Southeastern Guide Dogs transforms lives by creating and nurturing extraordinary partnerships between people and dogs. With over 1,100 dogs under our auspices, we train dogs of the highest pedigree for people with vision loss, veterans, and children.

Pursuing our mission since 1982, we provide our premier dogs and lifetime services at no cost, without any government funding. www.guidedogs.org

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