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We care about your safety, and so do our other BFFs over at Uber.  That’s why we’re putting $20 toward your first ride at Uber. 

Please drink responsibly on Opening Day. Don’t drink and drive. Use Uber.

Jesse Bray Wins Prestigious USPA Equus & Co. Award

Emerging polo star Jesse Bray, a native to southern California, was selected as the winner of the USPA Equus & Co. Award and the $10,000 prize that goes with it, which honors the Team USPA player who best exemplifies the program’s principles. The Equus & Co. Award was presented on Sunday, April 13 immediately following the 26-goal U.S. Open Polo Championship quarterfinals at International Polo Club Palm Beach in Wellington, FL.  Jesse Bray, Lucas Reid and Will Tankard were all nominated for the prestigious award.

“The three finalists are dedicated to the sport of polo and have worked hard to improve in all areas,” said Team USPA Program Director Kris Bowman in describing this year’s finalists. “Jesse, Lucas and Will are prime examples of the future of American polo. They are the true embodiment of the principles on which Jim Whisenand founded this prestigious award.”

Bray, a 4-goaler who is based in California, has won numerous tournaments around the country. Last summer at the Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club, he captured top Best Playing Pony honors in the 12-goal Intra-Circuit Cup with Can-Can and the 12-goal Vic Graber with Antelope, where he also earned the MVP award. He also won the Spreckles Cup at the San Diego Polo Club and finished it off by being selected as winner of the prestigious Willis Allen award, which recognizes the top all-around player, sportsman and horseman under 25 years-old.

The 21-year-old Bray has been on winning teams since 2010, when he was a part of the Eldorado Polo Club team that won the USPA National Interscholastic Championship. Bray is also a four-time winner of the Western Regional Interscholastic Championships.

 

SDPC’s Fall Favorites

Although the summer days have turned to crisp autumn afternoons, we are lucky to host events throughout the year. Our rustic venue is perfect for your next fall-inspired corporate or special event. Warm up field-side with spiced cider and pumpkin soup as your group enjoys the beautiful equestrian sport of polo and wide open space at the San Diego Polo Club.

Kobe Bryant Visits the SD Polo Club!

Basketball all-star Kobe Bryant was at the San Diego Polo Club this Saturday watching his daughter’s soccer team compete in a weekend tournament.

Maybe he’ll give polo a shot!

Photo courtesy of San Diego Surf Soccer Club

Labor Day Tournament & White Party

Things have been heating up in San Diego and we aren’t talking about just the weather.  As the San Diego Polo Summer Season continues through August and September, the polo talent rises.  The horses are faster, the players work harder, and the crowds grow larger.

This holiday weekend’s Labor Day Tournament started off with an 8-goal tournament match between Twin Palms/San Fernando vs. StarMeadow/Monteverde.  Things started off at an even pace in the first chukker, with Diego Velarde and Gaston VonWernich scoring for Twin Palms/San Fernando and Ellen Greenhill and Colton Bancroft scoring for StarMeadow/Monteverde.  Roberto Estudillo scored 3 goals for his team, Twin Palms/San Fernando and teammate, Diego Velarde, had a high of 5 goals.  Although StarMeadow/Monteverde played their hearts out, they just couldn’t catch up.  Twin Palms/San Fernando beat StarMeadow/Monteverde 10 to 7.

During intermission, the Victorian Roses Riding Society performed. The Victorian Roses are a re-enactment group from Southern California who enjoy representing history and doing events that raise money for charity.  The group symbolizes the romance of the 1880’s, or the Victorian Era, in the colorful costumes they wear and each member has a “rose” moniker representing who she is in the re-enactment society.  Truly a sisterhood of dedicated women, these ladies ride in numerous parades and rodeo ceremonies and also participate in skit competitions, old-west shows, costume contests and other events.

The feature match was the finals of the Labor Day tournament with Hanalei Bay vs. Adeptus.  Jesse Bray, who was bumped from a 2-goal handicap to a 4-goal handicap last year, started things off quickly and scored a goal for Adeptus within the first 30 seconds of the match.  Ashton Wolf, another favorite San Diego Polo player, scored 2 for Hanalei Bay in the first chukker.  Jesse Bray wouldn’t let that slide, so he scored two additional points for Adeptus in the second chukker.  By the third chukker, the score was tied up 3 to 3.

Guests enjoyed stomping divots with their Korbel California Champagne.  During the divot stomp, guests dressed in white spread out across the green grass during the perfect summer day.

During the half time, Hanalei Bay recharged and focused on the match.  In the fourth chukker, they came out blazing.  Mariano Fassetta score 3 goals and Ashton Wolf scored 1 for Hanalei Bay.  Adeptus’ Daniel Juarez only could get one goal past the opposing team.  In the fifth chukker, Hanalei Bay kept up with an additional 3 goals by Ashton Wolf, bringing the score up to 11.  Daniel Juarez scored again in the 5th and 6th chukkers, along with Jesse Bray, but they just couldn’t catch up to Hanalei Bay, but they sure did put up a fight!  Hanalei Bay beat Adeptus 12 to 9.

If you’re looking for some more action, join us this Sunday for the USPA Rossmore Cup and our annual Salute to Military, as we honor active military, veterans, and first responders.

2nd Annual Aloha Sunday

Join us as we kick off our second half of the 2013 Polo Season with Aloha Sunday. We are partnering with ilovemusubi.com for this island inspired Sunday. The Wild Thyme Catering Company and Chef Dawn Parks will be putting together a special menu consisting of Hawaiian specialty items like Loco Moco, Pineapple Pig with Coconut Rice and Ahi Poke. We’ll have fresh plumeria lei, shave ice and hip shaking island jams from Kieljhon of Ezzrah.

Pavilion tickets and General Admission tickets are still available online: sandiegopolo.ticketleap.com

2-Goal Tournament Series for 5 Weeks in September

The San Diego Polo Club is pleased to offer a 0-2 Goal Tournament Series for the 5 weekends in September.  Tournaments consist of 4-chukker games on both Saturday and Sunday.  Fees for Non-Members are $400 per person and that includes tournament fees, stabling and EMT.  To sign up, please contact our polo manager, Graham Bray at graham@sandiegopolo.com or 760-774-2583

Saturday Summer Polo

Join us for a Saturday of casual polo, from 8-goal pro pool to the USPA National Youth Tournament Series. Clubhouse bar opens at 3pm.

Admission is FREE.

You are welcome to bring a picnic, but please no outside alcohol.

2nd Annual Woodford Reserve Classic

What a nice Sunday for polo!  With temps in the high 70s, it was a good thing Woodford Reserve was crafting up icy cold cocktails for everyone to enjoy.

Woodford Reserve‘s guests enjoyed sipping on specialty cocktails including the classic mint julep, peach tea, and a twist on the classic old-fashioned, and munching on tasty tray-passed appetizers in the reserved Polo Pavilion.

The first match got started at 1pm with Adeptus/Sycamore vs. Twin Palms/San Fernando.  After healing up from a torn rotator cuff, Roberto Estudillo, made it back on the field for the match.  Dan Juarez started things off in the first chukker, scoring 1 goal for Adeptus/Sycamore and Diego Velarde of Twin Palms/San Fernando knocked a couple in for his team.  Those initial goals for Twin Palms/San Fernando were important for the team, as Adeptus/Sycamore trailed behind by 1 or 2 goals the length of the game.  Diego Velarde scored a high of 7 goals for Twin Palms/San Fernando, leading his team to victory.  Final score: 10 to 12, Twin Palms/San Fernando.

During intermission, rope charro, Miguel Sanchez of Encinitas, showed off his horsemanship and rope handling skills with a demonstration.

Land Rover of San Diego led the Parade of Teams for the feature match and finals of the Woodford Reserve Classic.  Christen Horne, graduate of Point Loma Nazarene, sang a beautiful rendition of the National Anthem.

Woodford Reserve‘s Suzanne Brown threw in the first ball to start the match!  Kimo Huddleston scored the first goal for Hanalei/San Judas and teammate Mariano Fassetta also scored within the first chukker.  Team Woodford Reserve‘s defensive player, Graham Bray, showed off his skills and put one on the board for Woodford.  By half time, Woodford Reserve was down 1 goal.  In the 4th chukker, Ramon Richard and Mariano Fassetta scored for Hanalei Bay/San Judas, bringing up the lead 8 to 5. 

In the 5th chukker, Woodford Reserve turned up the heat and Colton Bancroft scored 2 goals, changing the pace of the entire game.  Hanalei Bay/San Judas could not get through to put any points on the board, but they still lead by 1.  In the 6th and final chukker, Woodford Reserve pulled out the big guns and put an additional 5 goals through, leading the team to victory.  Colton Bancroft played an exceptional game, as did Martin Ravina.

DJ P turned the tables at the 7th Chukker After Party, playing upbeat hits until sundown.

We’ll see you Sunday, July 21 for the Fernando Gutierrez Memorial Cup and Free Wheelchair Mission live auction!

 

 

 

June 23 Sunday Polo Cancelled

Next Sunday Polo, June 23, 2013, has been cancelled due to the necessary rescheduling of a lacrosse tournament.  Polo will resume June 30 and continue on in accordance with the schedule.  We apologize for any inconvenience.