WELLINGTON, Fla., November 17, 2021—Tickets are on sale and sponsor packages available for the Nov. 27 International Cup and Legends of Polo Carlos Gracida Memorial at Grand Champions Polo Club.
By Sharon Robb
The tenth annual game, featuring GCPC USA against Argentina, will be part of a polo doubleheader, a holiday tradition that ends the biggest week of fall polo at the nation’s largest polo club.
GCPC will put its nine-year winning streak on the line against Argentina.
The opening game of the doubleheader is the Legends of Polo Carlos Gracida Memorial at 1 p.m. The game continues the Hall of Famer’s legacy by honoring one of the sport’s greats, who died tragically in February, 2014 at age 53.
In last year’s International Cup, GCPC USA (Grant Ganzi, Jeff Hall, Nic Roldan, Juan Bollini) defeated Argentina (Santiago Cernadas, Pablo Spinacci, Horacio Heguy, Michel Dorignac), 7-4. In the Legends game, Aspen Valley (Michael Bickford, Sugar Erskine, Nano Gracida, Nick Manifold) defeated Grand Champions (Pablo Pulido, Brandon Phillips, Carlitos Gracida, Kris Kampsen), 5-3.
It is the tenth time Grand Champions Polo Club will host a major international men’s game in the club’s storied history.
Since 2012 in front of sellout crowds and worldwide ChukkerTV audience, the U.S. has beaten England, Chile, Mexico, South Africa, Uruguay, Brazil, Azerbaijan, France and Argentina in the annual battle for the coveted cup.
The Legends game is 1 p.m. followed by the International Cup at 3 p.m. Gates open at 12:30 p.m.
Proceeds from the doubleheader benefit The Museum of Polo and Hall of Fame, a non-profit educational organization, dedicated to fostering an appreciation of the development, history and tradition of the sport of polo by collecting, preserving, exhibiting and interpreting its collections as well as honoring those who have made outstanding contributions to the sport.
Tickets, ranging from $20 to $1500, are on sale along with various sponsorship packages. They are:
$1,500 VIP Sponsor: Includes one reserved table for eight at the VIP tent, corporate partner signage and parking.
$250 Grand Champions Tailgate Package: Includes a reserved tailgate spot with parking for one car.
$200 VIP Pavilion Tickets: Includes one VIP admission ticket to the VIP tent with a field side view of the game, food and drink.
$20 General Admission.
For tickets, call 561-644-5050 or go to gcpolo.com.
Ken-Rose Catering will serve as the official caterer. The menu’s theme will center around popular American and Argentine food. Doug Verga Entertainment will be in full force with three couples as Tangos and Gauchos dancing the Flamenco.
Santa Rita Polo Farm has hosted four of five medium goal tournaments and one of two high goal tournaments. Seminole Casino Coconut Creek won the season-opening Fall Classic; La Indiana won the Tackeria Invitational; Zahedi Chogan won the Fall Plates and Audi won the John T. Oxley Memorial Tournament. The final medium goal is the Banyan Cup. Casablanca won the USPA North American Cup last weekend at Grand Champions. The National 20-Goal gets under way Friday.
Grand Champions Polo Club and Santa Rita Polo Farm is the largest and most unique private 100-acre polo facility in Wellington with 120 stalls in several self-contained barns, exercise track, five climate-controlled tack rooms, vet room, staff quarters, guest house and polo fields with state-of-the-art underground irrigation and stick-and-ball fields.
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 Director of Operations Juan Bollini at 561-346-1099.
The entire fall season is being 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.