The World Polo League, the only 26-goal polo played outside of Argentina, highlights the 2024 winter schedule at Grand Champions Polo Club.
By Sharon Robb
The largest, busiest and most innovative club in the nation is celebrating its 17th anniversary with highly-anticipated tournaments from January through April.
Grand Champions will host high, medium and low goal polo highlighted by the sixth season of the World Polo League that begins in February with a star-studded lineup of some of the world’s best players.
The successful World Polo League again will feature some of the world’s best players including Argentine 10-goalers Polito Pieres, Pablo MacDonough brothers Barto and Jeta Castagnola among others. The 26-goal league, created by club owners Marc and Melissa Ganzi, is the most competitive polo in Wellington.
The WPL season features the Feb. 6-25 All-Star Challenge; Feb. 22-March 10, Founders Cup; March 6-23 Palm Beach Open; March 24, Tommy Hitchcock Legacy Memorial; March 20-April 13 Triple Crown of Polo and Miami Beach Polo World Cup with a date still to be determined.
Three other high goal tournaments are being offered: Feb. 1-11 Sterling Cup (20 goals), Feb. 7-24 $100,000 World Cup (0-40 goals) and Feb. 27-March 10 Santa Rita Abierto (20 goals).
The winter season also offers 6, 8, 12 and 16-goal leagues in addition to a weekly Polo School Women’s League and WCT Finals. Grand Champions and Santa Rita Polo Farm also hosts special and fun events at its well-manicured 11 fields during the winter season. Admission is free and open to the public.
The 16-goal tournaments are the Jan. 23-Feb.10 Grand Champions Cup; Feb. 13-March 2 Power Horse Invitational and March 5-23 John T. Oxley Memorial.
The 12-goal tournaments are the Jan. 29-Feb. 10 Limited Edition 12 Goal Series; Feb. 13-March 2 Sieber Memorial Trophy; March 5-23 Top Pony 12-Goal and Feb. 14-Feb. 25 $50,000 National 12 Goal.
The 8-goal tournaments are the Jan. 12-28 Aspen Valley Cup; Feb. 13-March 2 Top Pony 8 Goal; and March 5-23 Limited Edition 8 Goal Series.
The 6-goal tournaments are the Jan. 23-Feb. 10 Metropolitan Cup; Feb. 13-March 2 Halo Polo Trophy and March 5-23 Madelon Bourdieu Memorial.
The club takes pride in teaching and sharing the exciting sport of polo with anyone interested in learning, according to Melissa Ganzi.
Wellington-based ChukkerTV (CTV Sports) will live stream the entire winter season worldwide. Grand Champions is the only USPA club that is live streaming all its games. ChukkerTV’s state-of-the art technology also features team challenges and instant replay which made their debut at Grand Champions in January, 2014.
Grand Champions Polo Club and Santa Rita Polo Farm is the largest and most unique private 102-acre polo facility in Wellington with 212 stalls in nine self-contained barns, two exercise tracks, five climate-controlled tack rooms, vet room, staff quarters, guest house and four polo fields with state-of-the-art underground irrigation, short work arena and stick-and-ball fields.
Grand Champions Polo Club and Santa Rita Polo Farm cater 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 at the turnkey facility.
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. The Polo School operates in Wellington January through June and September through November. For more information on the Fall Leagues or Polo School contact Juan Bollini at 561-346-1099 or Cale Newman at 561-876-2930.
Grand Champions Polo Club is located at 13444 Southfields Road in Wellington. For more information about the upcoming season visit www.gcpolo.com.