The Tackeria Invitational, the oldest tournament in club history, begins Thursday at Santa Rita Polo Farm.
By Sharon Robb
The four-team tournament opens with Chogan playing La Indiana at 4:45 p.m. on Thursday. The second game between Roxbury Raiders and Loudmouth is Friday, also at 4:45 p.m.
The winners advance into Sunday’s championship game at 10 a.m. followed immediately by the subsidiary game.
Team rosters are:
Chogan: Sy Zahedi, Jason Crowder, Pablo Spinacci, Juancito Bollini.
La Indiana: Matthew Gonzalez, Jeff Hall, Luis Escobar, TBA.
Roxbury Raiders: Josh Silverman, Brandon Phillips, Tommy Biddle, Nick Manifold.
Loudmouth: Andrew Seibert, Kris Kampsen, Sugar Erskine, Leo Mandelbaum.
Team sponsors Chogan, Roxbury and Loudmouth along with Zahedi are making their club debut. Seibert returns with new sponsor Loudmouth. Last month in Santa Barbara, Rancho Polo/Chogan won the Regional President’s Cup Final with a 14-12 win over Klentner Ranch. Crowder was MVP with 10 goals.
The Tackeria Invitational has a history of exciting finishes.
In the 2020 Tackeria Invitational, Casablanca (Nico Harriott, Grant Ganzi, Nic Roldan and Santi Bermudez)defeated La Indiana (Matthew Gonzalez, Michael Bickford, Nick Manifold, Jeff Hall), 8-6. Ganzi was MVP.
In 2019, the tournament was a round robin and rescheduled because of weather. Flexjet (Melissa Ganzi, Pablo Spinacci, Kris Kampsen, Juan Bollini) defeated Audi (Marc Ganzi, Sterling Giannico, Nic Roldan, Santos Bollini), 4-2, to clinch.
In 2018, Casablanca (Grant Ganzi, Juancito Bollini, Julio Gracida, Mariano Gracida) won a hardfought 10-9 overtime game over Flexjet (Santos Bollini, Lucas Escobar, Kris Kampsen, Juan Bollini).
In 2017, Audi (Marc Ganzi, Jason Crowder, Brandon Phillips, Carlitos Gracida) rallied in the final chukker to defeat Casablanca (Grant Ganzi, Andres LaPlacette, Pablo Dorignac, Juan Bollini), 11-10, in overtime at Santa Rita Polo Farm.
In 2016, Flexjet (Riley Ganzi, Melissa Ganzi, Juan Bollini, Jason Crowder) defeated Casablanca (Grant Ganzi, Jared Sheldon, Carlitos Gracida, Juancito Bollini), 7-6, on Melissa Ganzi’s winning goal just before the 30-second horn in the final chukker.
Title sponsor Tackeria, a longtime supporter of polo, Grand Champions and Santa Rita Polo Farm, carries one of the most complete selections of equestrian equipment in the world, importing goods from all over Europe, the Far East and South America to create the best selection of quality items for its customers. It is a go-to source for equipment, supplies, fashion and gifts for the hunter and jumper, dressage and polo disciplines. The Tackeria is located on the corner of Pierson Rd. and South Shore at 13501 South Shore Blvd.
The Tackeria Invitational is the second of four medium tournaments. Seminole Casino Coconut Creek won the season-opening Fall Classic. Four high goal tournaments are also scheduled for the fall.
The highlight of the fall season is the Nov. 27 doubleheader with the Carlos Gracida Memorial Legends of Polo and International Cup. Sponsorship packages are available.
During the fall season, roster lineups change from tournament to tournament with evenly-matched teams to help improve players skills and performance. The games also give players an opportunity to work young horses.
The fall season also gives American players who don’t have a chance to go to Argentina an opportunity to improve their polo and keep them playing year-round.
During fall, winter and spring seasons, Grand Champions Polo Club, the nation’s largest club with 13 well-manicured, world-class fields at GCPC and Santa Rita Polo Farm, hosts polo tournaments ranging from six to 26-goal including the 26-goal World Polo League in addition to special events.
During the winter season, Grand Champions and Santa Rita will host 23 tournaments from Jan. 15 to April 15.
The Polo School, a 501c3 organization and stand-alone USPA club, is dedicated to teaching polo to all ages, particularly grass roots youth. Its’ mission is to provide individuals opportunities in polo at every economic and ability level. Scholarships are available. The Polo School operates in Wellington January through May and September through November. For more information on the Fall Leagues or Polo School contact Juan Bollini at 561-346-1099.
The entire fall season will be live-streamed on Wellington-based ChukkerTV, leaders in polo broadcasting with cutting-edge technology including 4K TV currently making its’ debut. ChukkerTV also features team challenges and instant replay which made their debut at Grand Champions in January, 2014.
Grand Champions Polo Club caters to men, women and youth polo players at all levels. Its’ expert staff can customize a complete playing experience including horses, pros and certified umpires in addition to lessons and practice sessions as part of its’ Polo On Demand program, the only polo club in the U.S. to offer the unique program.
