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24
summer
|
fal l
T
he Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club, founded
in 1911, is the third oldest United States Polo
Association (USPA) club still in existence in the
United States. Driving by the property on the
frontage road that runs parallel to Highway 101, one can be forgiven
for mistaking the grassy expanse guarded by verdant hedges as
the home of a favored baseball team. Spotting the back of what
looks to be an ancient wooden scoreboard would confirm that first
impression, as would the array of pennants billowing in the wind
along and above the wall.
Even inside the viewing area as one approaches the bleacher
section, it seems more like a Wrigley Field or Fenway Park than a
field of dreams for teams of thoroughbred “ponies” to be ridden hard
and at high speed by (mostly) men swinging mallets and chasing a
hard plastic “ball” across the level lawn.
Eva Van Prooyen’s profile (beginning on page 40) of Leigh
Brecheen – one of at least two women expected to compete at the
polo field this summer, hints at the likelihood there will be more
women to saddle up in coming years. During the interview, Ms
Brecheen points out that polo is unique as a sport in that it allows
professional players to team up with non-professionals on the same
team, and also encourages women to compete directly with men
under the exact same standards and rigors.
As for this year’s polo season, admission to the Sunday games is
$10 per person; children under 12 are free. Polo club members tend
to dress in their Sunday best, and protocol insists that members and
their friends and families have exclusive use of the clubhouse and
the stands adjacent. But there is no dress code for the general public,
who are encouraged not only to attend but also to bring their own
picnic baskets, and to take seats (or bring their own) along the entire
length on both sides of the game field.
We hope to see you between chukkers.
Tim Buckley
Publisher
Publisher’s Note
Saddle Up