Aiken Polo Club 2024

Pacers & Polo 2024: Osla vs. AB Beverage

Letter from the President

Dear Friends of Aiken Polo,

Welcome to the 2024 polo season here at Aiken Polo Club. Our spring got off to a fantastic start with the Pacers and Polo match, held for the first time on historic Whitney Field. Pacers and Polo is the third leg of Aiken’s annual Triple Crown, which also includes the Aiken Trials races at the Aiken Training Track and the Aiken Spring Steeplechase. The club was happy to welcome everyone back to the field, and we had a great game for players and for spectators. We hope everyone who joined us for the first time will be back and that all of our regular spectators are looking forward spending every Sunday with us in the spring and the fall.

Lately, there has been a lot of talk in Aiken about the growth of the city, and about how important it is to make sure that we preserve the things that we love about our city. Polo, along with other equestrian sports, is definitely among the top attractions in Aiken, and we are lucky that the city recognizes this and supports us. In many other places, horse sports are being pushed out, but here in Aiken, the historic district streets are still unpaved to keep them hoof friendly. At our club, we have a beautiful modern viewing pavilion and new, state-of-the-art turf on our field. We are surrounded by other thriving equestrian venues, such as the new steeplechase track, and the Aiken Horse Park, which is getting better all the time. We are lucky to be part of a community that understands that horses are a way of life in Aiken. They are not just our tradition. They are also our future.

We hope you enjoy your time at Aiken Polo Club, whether you are a first-time spectator, a longtime fan or one of our dedicated players. Thank you to everyone for supporting our club and our polo tradition. We will see you on the field.

Charles S. Bostwick, President

Aiken Polo Club has been playing on Whitney Field since 1882. Need more information? Visit our website www.aikenpolo.org. For daily updates call the hotline: 803-643-3611. Find us in Facebook.

In Loving Memory Henry P. Cato

July 19, 1955 - August 16, 2022

Henry's Thoughts

“What a great opportunity polo was! We met people from all over the world. Polo opened so many doors. Polo helped us reach out to so many people. It also helped keep the family together. Polo has been the link to lifelong associations and connections both within the family (brothers, sisters, spouses, nephews, cousins) and outside the family – with other polo players, friends, employees, grooms, and other members of the USPA. Playing with and against each other. Winning and losing. I’m grateful for all the people I have met along the way. I love the horses. Polo is about the horses. Riding as one with the horse. You become a part of the horse. It always reminds me of the way I felt when Dad and I rode when I was a kid. Dad’s love of horses is part of his legacy to me. He instilled the love of horses into all of us. My favorite horse of all time was Dream Girl. Her name says it all.ˮ

The Cato Family extends congratulations to all the players and the winning team of

The Second Annual Henry P. Cato Memorial Tournament Spring 2024

Accommodations Guide

Aiken is a wonderful place to play. Where to stay? Plan your visit here.

HOTELS DOWNTOWN

The Carriage House Inn 139 Laurens St. NW 803-644-5888

Days Inn - Downtown 1204 Richland Ave. Aiken, SC 29801 803-649-5524

419 Hayne 419 Hayne Ave Aiken, SC 29801 803-761-2980

The Willcox

100 Colleton Ave. SW

803-648-1898/ Toll Free: 877-648-2200

HOTELS AROUND TOWN

Clarion Hotel

155 Colonial Parkway 803-648-0999

Econo Lodge 3560 Richland Ave. 803-649-3968

Fairfield Inn and Suites by Marriott

185 Colony Parkway 803-648-7808

Hampton Inn 100 Tamil Drive Whiskey Rd. South 803-648-2525

Hilton Garden Inn 350 East Gate Drive 803-641-4220

Holiday Inn Express & Suites 2897 Whiskey Road 803-508-7700

Howard Johnson’s 1936 Whiskey Rd. South 803-649-5000

Inn at Houndslake 897 Houndslake Dr. 803-648-9535

Quality Inn 3608 Richland Avenue West 803-641-1100

Sleep Inn 1002 Monterey Drive 803-644-9900

Towne Place Suites 1008 Monterey Drive 803- 641-7373

www.visitaikensc.com

BED & BREAKFAST

208 Abbeville Bed and Breakfast 208 Abbeville Ave. NW 803-649-3109

The Birdnest Inn 5200 Sizemore Circle Aiken, SC 29803 979-530-3900

RENTALS

Aiken Luxury Rentals 215 Grace Ave SE 803-640-1756

Fairfield and Park 227 Park Ave SE Aiken SC, 29801 803-507-1132

Stable View 117 Stable Drive Aiken SC, 29801 484-356-3173

Tallyho Aiken Downtown Rental www.airbnb.com

Whisper Farm 2300 Salley Road Salley, SC 29137 410-924-1790

2024 Pacers & Polo New Home for the Triple Crown Game

Pacers and Polo, the third leg of the Aiken Triple Crown, has a new home this year. The annual polo game has traditionally been put on by the University of South Carolina Aiken to benefit its athletic programs, and was always held at Aiken Polo Club’s Powderhouse Field across from the Aiken Horse Park. This year, however, Aiken Polo Club took over the event, moving the action to historic Whitney Field, a more intimate setting with a greater emphasis on the polo community and its connection to Aiken. What’s more, the game, which took place on Saturday, March 30, was created as a benefit specifically for the university’s equestrian program, furthering the club’s mission to promote polo and horse sports throughout the area.

“We would like to help grow Pacers and Polo for the community, and to continue to support polo and the college.˝

“Part of the proceeds will go to the USC Aiken polo team,” continued Susie. “It’s very exciting to have a polo team playing for the college. We would like to help grow Pacers and Polo for the community, and to continue to support polo and the college.”

“We are very excited to have taken over Pacers and Polo,” said Susie Kneece, Aiken Polo Club’s marketing director, who coordinated the spectator side of the activities while her husband Tiger organized the game itself. “We seemed to have a whole new crowd of people that came to the event. This year Tiger put together a terrific game – 8 goal. It was very fast polo and the crowd was able to be up close for the action.”

AB Beverage and Osla Agency were the team sponsors while USC Aiken stayed involved as the title sponsor.

Pacers and Polo has traditionally been the first official polo match of the spring season, and has been a time for players to get their horses in front of a crowd for the first time since the fall. It’s also a great day to introduce new fans to the sport, who might come to their very first polo game because of the event’s relationship to the Aiken Triple Crown. The Triple Crown, three consecutive Saturdays of equestrian sport, also includes the Aiken Trials races (held two Saturdays before polo) and the Aiken Steeplechase (held a week before.) It’s also a welcome day for confirmed polo fans who have missed having their weekly polo fix and are eagerly awaiting the return of the season.

This year’s event featured a close, fast game, with some impressive play from both teams. In the end, Osla Agency pulled out the win by a single goal.

“Everyone had a really good time,” commented Susie Kneece. “They opened up the game and let the horses run! The two teams actually had a lot of fun and it was a great way to start the season.”

Winners, Osla Agency. Frank and Becky Mullins, Ruben Coscia, Pedro Lara and Jesus Ontiveros. Photo by Maybe Ortiz

Top to bottom: Andrew Scott takes a backshot for AB Beverage; Pedro Lara of Osla battles Max Hempt for the ball

Jesus Ontiveros of Osla tries to get past Luis Galvan of AB Beverage

Best playing pony Cristero owned and ridden by Jesus Ontiveros

Photos by Barry Bornstein and Maybe Ortiz

Tournament Winners Tournament Winners

Henry Cato Memorial Winners Hyde Park: Amy Cortazar, Fatima Balzano, Lucas Arellano, Will Green

Above: NYTS Aiken Winners, Enviroscape: Valentina Tarazono, Brooke Burke, Josh Escapite, Brianna Jordan Below: USPA Sportsmanship Cup, Foxdale/Peachtree: Randy Rizor, Jesus Ontiveros, Marcos Onetto, Hugh Worsham with presenting sponsors Amy Hebert and CP Doremus from Aiken Saddlery

Women's 4-8 Goal Winners Team Resolute: Nicole Hai, Alea Crespo, Kylie Sheehan, Lauren Proctor-Brown USPA Constitution Cup, West Shore: Justin Pimsner, Flaco Lizaso, George Hempt, Josh Escapite

Aiken Women,s 8-12 Goal, MidState Roofing: Robyn & Reagan Leitner, Madison Jordan, Grace Beck

Aiken Polo Club Spring 4 Goal, West Shore/Mullins Land: Max Hempt, Ruben Coscia, Josh Escapite, Frank Mullins

Alan Lyle Corey Memorial: West Shore/Mullins Land: Max Hempt, Ruben Coscia, Josh Escapite, Frank Mullins, Pat Corey Women,s Fall 4-8 Goal, Spencer Ranch, Cannon Ridge: Rachel Spencer, Casey Floyd, Avery Evans, Kylie Sheehan

USPA Governor,s Cup 6 Goal, MidState Roofing: Robyn & Reagan Leitner, Hope & Lucas Arellano with presenting sponsor Ed Lucky of Taylor BMW

USPA George Patton Cup, Peach Tree: Randy Rizor, Jesus Ontiveros, Tommy Biddle, Hugh Worsham

Women,s Fall 8-12 Goal, Palm Beach Polo: Kelly Colbath, Malia Bryan, Summer Kneece, Madison Jordan

USPA Player,s Cup, Un Stable: Jewel Gregoncza, Chase Butler, Harry & Charlie Caldwell

SIG

Above: Luis Galvan pursues Tommy Biddle

Below: Aiden Meeker; Alejandro Ontiveros

Pam Gleason

Richard Schmon

Richard Schmon

Polo Community of Aiken Fund

Helping Local Polo Families in Need

By Katie Roth

A newly formed charity, the Polo Community of Aiken Fund (PCAF) has been established to aid polo families within the Aiken community. PCAF has elected a board of directors and is currently filing for their 501c3 status.

Polo Community of Aiken Fund was created to help a polo family in the spring of 2022. Polo players Ruben and Anna Coscia’s 3-year-old son Bear suffered a ruptured appendix and spent 13 long days in the hospital after an emergency appendectomy. A fundraiser called “Polo for Bear” was held at New Bridge Polo Club to assist the family with medical costs. Polo for Bear included a high goal exhibition polo match, a silent auction, and a long-ball-hitting contest. It was a great success, raising more than enough funds to help the Coscias with Bear’s expenses. The leftover money was used to establish PCAF so that other polo families could be helped in the future.

Team USA , FIP World Cup Finals. Photo by David Lominska

Right: Chip and Paige Limehouse, Wild West Fest 2023

Below: Long Ball Hitters at the Wild West Fest: David Walton, Wesley Bryan, Tommy Biddle, Ruben Coscia, Dennys Santana

“PCAF’s mission is to provide the Aiken poloplaying community with financial grants in times of need. There is an application process, like Polo Players Support Group (PPSG), but the difference is that PCAF can help with medical expenses as well as other issues that may not fall under the mission of PPSG,” explained PCAF board president, Stacie Simpkins. Polo Player’s Support Group, based in Florida and founded in 2002, has distributed over $3 million to members of the polo community in financial crisis caused by physical injury or illness.

With PCAF in place, a second fundraiser was held last October at New Bridge Polo Club. “Wild West Fall Fest,” held in conjunction with the finals of the USPA Northrup Knox 8 Goal® tournament, featured a VIP area at the clubhouse, activities for children, and a silent auction. A long-ball-hitting contest between powerhouse players Tommy Biddle, Wesley Bryan, Ruben Coscia, and Dennys Santana had guests bidding on their top choice. Ten percent of the money raised went to the winning hitter, with the winning bidders and PCAF splitting the remainder. Santana was the reigning champion from the Polo for Bear event, and again took home bragging rights to the title at Wild West Fall Fest.

Proceeds from the Wild West Fall Fest benefitted PCAF, as well as a 529 education fund (a tax-advantaged college savings fund) for the sons of Del Walton and Tessa Callaghan Lord. Walton, a third-generation polo player, died in a car accident in December 2022 at the age of 39.

“The polo community mourns the loss of Del Walton, and we wanted to find a way to help his children have the bright futures they deserve,” Simpkins said. “I can’t think of a better way to give back to the people who work so hard for this sport. PCAF is a real asset to our polo community.”

For more information or to donate, call Stacie Simpkins: 917-754-1203

Top: Paige Limehouse & Elena Escapite Right: Julia & Scott Kline, Katie Johnson

Gear of the Game

The Team

Jersey sports the color of the player’s team and the number of the position that he or she plays, from 1 to 4.

Knee & Elbow

Pads protect against fast balls. Knee pads are appreciated during hard ride-offs!

Leg Wraps & Boots provide support to tendons and ligaments as well as protection from balls and mallets.

The Helmet is required equipment. Modern helmets are modeled after the pith helmets that the British wore in 19th century India. They must pass strict safety standards and are designed to fend off flying balls and mallets and to protect the head if the player should fall.

The Mallet normally ranges from 49 to 53 inches and is made of malacca cane. The head is fashioned from tipa, a South American wood.

The Bit controls the horse. Polo players use many different kinds of bit. This one is called a pelham

The Ball is made of hard plastic that dents a little each time it is hit.

above: Summer Kneece

Pictured

Above: Kylie Sheehan

Below: Nick Place; Josh Escapite

Pam Gleason

Pam Gleason

Richard Schmon

Above: Fatima Bolsano & Nick Place; Jewel Gregoncza & Katie Escapite

Below: Justin Pimsner; Mario Baldebenitez

Pam Gleason

Pam Gleason

Richard Schmon

Pam Gleason

Above: Charlie Caldwell; Malia Bryan Below: Will Green; Jesus Ontiveros & Ruben Coscia

Pam Gleason

Pam Gleason

Pam Gleason

Pam Gleason

SMALL BUT MIGHTY USC Aiken Equestrian

By Pam Gleason

The University of South Carolina Aiken is one of the smallest colleges on the intercollegiate equestrian circuit, but it is also one of the most successful. In recent years, USC Aiken has had active teams in Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association (IHSA) competitions in hunt seat and western, and this year it has the defending national championship eventing team. The USC Aiken Polo team also has a growing reputation and is currently one of the best in the country. This is a quite a feat for a college with only about 3,500 students: the USCA riders have gone up against (and often beaten) teams from much larger institutions with well-funded and long-established equestrian programs, such as the University of Kentucky and Texas A&M.

“I looked at the list of some of the schools our students are competing against and I was impressed,” said Michelle Hodge, who is the equestrian coordinator at USC Aiken.

“Some of those schools can offer a lot more support than we can.”

According to Michelle Hodge, the equestrian programs at the college are club sports and are run by the students themselves, with the help of an advisor. The different sports have different structures. For instance, members of the eventing team bring their own horses to school and generally have their own individual coaches and training programs. On the other hand, members of the IHSA teams do not compete on their own horses and they usually practice on horses provided by the school’s official coach. Polo teams likewise compete on horses provided by the colleges: in a match, each horse plays one period for one team and the next for the other, so neither team has a better string.

The intercollegiate polo program at USC Aiken has been active on and off for at least a decade, but has

Kaylin Bender, Shona Adams, Brianna Jordan, Summer Kneece

USC Aiken Eventing Team, 2023 USEA Intercollegiate Champions: Heidi Gyselinck, Alexa Duncan, Sydney Shinn, Carson Langenberg

Kaylin Bender

become much more competitive over the past few years. This is largely due to the influence of the Aiken Youth Polo interscholastic program, which produced the national champion girls’ team in 2021, 2022 and 2023 under the guidance of the Aiken Polo Club manager Tiger Kneece. Now players from those high school age teams have started college, several of them at USC Aiken where they continue to play together under their coach, Parker Scott. The 2024 women’s team (Summer Kneece, Brianna Jordan, Kaylin Bender and Shona Adams) qualified for Division 1 play, meaning they were one of the top seven teams in the country – there are currently 34 schools nationwide with intercollegiate polo teams.

Aiken’s intercollegiate polo falls under the umbrella of Aiken Youth Polo and the team practices in the arena at New Bridge Polo Club. Tiger Kneece says the women have been playing well and the team will only get stronger over the next few years.

“We have a program that’s growing,” Tiger said, “And they have a chance to make a great run here. I’m not saying they’re going to win every year, but they’re going to be one of your top teams.”

Although the amount of support USC Aiken can provide for club sports is limited, Michelle Hodge says that they are often able to help teams with such things as travel expenses and entry fees. As of last year, USC Aiken also offers equestrian scholarships both to incoming and to current students, who can apply through the school’s website.

According to Hodge, participating on an intercollegiate equestrian team has many benefits, and the USC Aiken equestrian program makes the school especially attractive to young people who are into horses.

“I can really see a difference in the horse kids that come here,” said Michelle. “You can see it in their level of responsibility and their time management. Plus, Aiken is horse country: It’s a great place to be if you’re horse inclined. There so many opportunities here. If you have a kid that wants to keep riding, and parents who want her to go to school, USC Aiken is the best place to do that.”

For more information about USC Aiken Equestrian, to apply for a scholarship or donate to the program, visit https://www. usca.edu/equestrian or call Michelle Hodge at (803) 641-3518

Donations may be directed to the discipline of your choice.

Summer Kneece on the ball

Above: Pedro Lara; Connell Erb & Alea Crespo

Below: Connell Erb & Alison Poor

Pam Gleason

Pam Gleason

Pam Gleason

Above: Harry Cadwell & Hope Arellano; Allison Patricelli

Below: Jerry Mount; Robyn Leitner

Richard Schmon

Richard Schmon

Richard Schmon

Richard Schmon

Above: Frank Mullins & Chase Butler

Below: Reagan Leitner; Lazaro Gorosito

Pam Gleason

Pam Gleason

Richard Schmon

Polo is an addictive sport. Just ask any player. There is something about it that gets into your blood, takes hold of your imagination and brings you back to the field, year after year. What is it? The teamwork among the players, the power and nobility of the horses, the sound of the mallet hitting the ball? Or maybe it is the thrill of speed, the adrenalin rush of scoring a goal, that sense of being truly present during the game – when you are on the field, there can be no other thoughts on your mind. During a game, everything that is important is right there: your horse, your opponent, the ball, the goal. And afterwards, you are tired and exhilarated, maybe proud of your win, or disappointed in a loss, but there is sense that you have done something. Polo can become all-consuming.

But what is the game all about? People who have never been to a match sometimes refer to it as “croquet on horseback”, but in fact, polo is nothing at all like croquet. It is a fast-moving, physical contact sport, where the horses reach speeds in excess of 30 miles per hour, the ball can fly as fast as 110 mph, and players must rely on an intense partnership with their horses to be successful. There is no other sport like it.

POLO PRIMER

Introduction to the Sport of Kings

By Pam Gleason

HOW TO PLAY POLO

At its heart, polo is a simple game. Four mounted players make up a team. These players meet on a manicured grass field, each armed with a wooden-headed mallet that is generally between 49 and 53 inches long. All players are required to hold the mallet in their right hands, even if they are left-handed. They hold the reins and control their horses with their left hands.

The first objective of the game is to hit the ball through a set of posts marking a goal 8 yards wide. The ball can go through the posts at any height. Polo is a game where

geometry counts, and the parallel lines formed by the goal posts are considered to extend infinitely into space. A goal judge (flagger) on each endline is charged with determining whether a goal has been scored or not. If the ball passes between the posts, he waves his flag over his head for “yes.” If the ball goes outside the posts, or passes over the top of them, he waves his flag by his feet for “no.”

The second objective of the game is to prevent members of the opposing team from hitting the ball and scoring. Defensive plays include hooking an opponent’s mallet as he or she tries to strike the ball — you can only do this if

you are on the same side of your opponent’s horse as the ball, since it would be dangerous (and a foul) to reach, over, under or in front of another rider’s horse. You may also ride off, which you accomplish by placing your horse next to your opponent’s and encouraging your horse to push his off course. Finally, you may bump, which is riding off with a bang — but it is illegal to bump or ride off at an angle greater than 45 degrees, or to do anything that causes your horse or your opponent’s horse to lose balance, stumble or fall.

In addition to eight players, each game also includes two mounted umpires in striped shirts who ride along with the players to ensure that everyone is adhering to the rules. Any time one of the umpires sees something that looks like a foul, he blows his whistle, which stops the play. If the other umpire saw the same thing and agrees with him, the team that was fouled is awarded a penalty shot. If the other umpire does not think there was a foul, the two umpires consult the third man, who sits on the sidelines. The third man, otherwise known as the referee, decides whether a foul was committed or not.

THE PLAY

The play begins with a line-up at the center of the field. Members of each team line up opposite members of the other team. Then one of the umpires bowls the ball between the two teams. Each team fights to gain possession and drive the ball down to the opposite goal. After each goal, the teams switch directions. If the blue team scores on the east end of the field, then in the next play, blue will be trying to score on the west end of the

field. Switching directions after each goal equalizes field conditions.

It often happens that a team attempting to score a goal will hit the ball over the endline instead. When this happens, there is a knock-in: the defending team is given possession of the ball on the endline and has a free hit at it. On the other hand, sometimes the team that is defending the goal accidentally hits the ball over the endline while trying to get it out of danger. When this happens, the opposing team is given a safety, which is a free shot on goal from 60 yards out. The ball also sometimes goes over the sideboards. Hitting the ball out of bounds is treated like a minor foul, and the team that hit the ball out gives the other team possession and a free hit.

A polo match is divided into periods called “chukkers” or “chukkas.” Each chukker consists of seven and a half minutes of playing time. The timekeeper stops the clock when a player commits a foul, or when someone hits the ball over the endline, but not when a player scores a goal. At seven minutes, the timekeeper sounds a warning bell. Play continues until a goal is scored, or 30 seconds have passed. The final chukker ends at the seven-minute mark unless the score is tied.

When time is up for each chukker, the timekeeper sounds the horn. Then the players have four minutes to leave the field, change horses and come back for the next chukker. Play is continuous in polo, which means that the action starts in the second chukker at the place where it ended in the first. After the third chukker in a six-chukker match, or the second chukker in a four-chukker match,

Ruben Coscia and Charlie Caldwell

Each player wears a jersey bearing a number from 1 to 4, reflecting which position he or she plays on the field.

there is a longer half-time break, during which spectators are encouraged to walk out on the field to smooth down bits of turf that were torn up by galloping hooves, otherwise known as stomping the divots.

Most players prefer to have a fresh horse for each chukker. As a rule, a horse can play one or two chukkers per game. This means that a player must have a minimum of three horses to compete in a six chukker match. Some players use as many as eight or ten horses in a game, jumping off one and onto another mid-chukker. Although they may decide to change horses when the clock is stopped, the umpires do not stop the clock just because one of the players is changing mounts. They also never stop the clock just because a player has dropped or broken his mallet. They may not even stop the clock if a player falls off. As long as that player is not hurt and isn’t in imminent danger of getting run over, the umpires are not required to blow their whistles, and usually don’t.

FAIR AND FOUL

Most of the rules in polo come from the concept of the line-of-the-ball, an imaginary line that the ball creates when a player hits it. A simplified explanation is that a player must not cross this line if there is another player behind him who is on the line and therefore has the right of way. This sometimes means that a player must take the ball on the left side (near side) of his horse, and sometimes means he must not try to hit it at all. If a player does cross the line or commits another foul such as high hooking (hooking another player’s mallet

when it is above the level of his shoulder), the fouled team gets to take a penalty shot. The more serious the foul, the closer this shot will be to the fouling player’s goal. Fouls that occur closer to the goal are more serious than fouls that occur further away from the goal. A minor foul might merit a hit from the spot. If the foul is more serious, or is repeated, intentional, or dangerous, the umpire might move the ball up to mid-field, to the 60yard, the 40-yard or the 30-yard line. The umpire might also move the ball up if a player on the fouling team complains about the call. A serious foul near the goal might result in a Penalty One, in which the team that was fouled is awarded an automatic goal, and then gets to take a penalty shot at midfield.

THE MAKINGS OF A TEAM

The four players on each team wear jerseys bearing a number from 1 to 4. The number refers to the player’s position on the field. The Number 1 is primarily an offensive player, whose job is to run to goal, hoping for a pass from his or her teammates. The Number 2 is also an offensive player, but must be more aggressive, breaking up the offensive plays of the other team, and continually forcing the attack. The Number 3 is usually the strongest player on the team, whose job is to hit long balls, plan the plays and make them happen. The 3 covers the opposing 2. The Number 4, or Back, a primarily defensive player, covers the opposing Number 1 and generally shuts the back door, preventing the other team from scoring.

Malia Bryan goes for the hook on Anna Palacios

HANDICAPS

All polo players are assigned handicaps which are expressed as a number of goals. The handicap reflects how many goals a player is theoretically worth to his or her team, but has nothing whatever to do with how many he or she might actually score in a game. Players are assessed and assigned a handicap in the fall and the spring after the summer and winter seasons respectively. They normally keep their handicap until the next handicap meeting, though it is possible for someone playing significantly above or below his rating to have a handicap change midseason. Handicaps run from C (-2, or beginner) up to 10 (the best in the world.)

When men and women play together, they are all rated on the same scale. In women’s tournaments, however, there is a separate women’s handicap, also running from -2 to 10. A 1-goal player in open polo might be a 4-goal player in women’s polo. The highest rating a woman has ever achieved in mixed polo is 5 goals. The top female players in the country might be 2 or 3 goals in mixed polo and 8-10 goals in exclusively female matches.

To arrive at a team handicap, one adds up the individual handicaps of the four players on the team. Three 1s and a 2, for instance, would make a 5-goal team. This team could play in a 6 goal tournament. If they were playing against a 6-goal team, they would start the game with one goal on the scoreboard. Tournaments are classified by how many goals they are. For instance, Aiken Polo Club’s USPA Constitution Cup is a 6 goal: no team may be rated more than 6 goals.

The handicapping system keeps teams that play against one another relatively even and allows players of different abilities to compete on the same field. Handicapping also gives rise to the unique pro-am aspect of polo. There is very little purely professional polo in the United States. The most usual situation is to have amateurs hire higher rated professionals to play with them in tournaments, thus raising the level of the polo.

POLO PONIES

The animals used in polo are called ponies, but they are not really ponies at all. In America, most are Thoroughbreds, and some began their careers as race horses. Others were bred specifically for polo, and still others were imported from Argentina, where polo pony breeding and training is a big industry. Aiken has a growing reputation as a top place to breed, train and bring along young horses.

Polo ponies generally stand between 15 and 16 hands at the withers (a hand is four inches.) They are trained to stop and turn quickly, to boldly face oncoming horses, to tolerate flying mallets and balls, to ride off, bump, and run like the wind when asked. Players say the horse makes up 60, 70 or even 80 percent of a player’s worth. An exceptional string of horses can make the difference between a good and a great player.

LIVING THE DREAM

Polo was once the sport of kings, played only by the wealthy leisure classes. Today, although playing polo certainly requires a significant investment of time and money, the people who play have different backgrounds and occupations. People of all ages and abilities can play, and the sport does not really require vast sums of money, although money certainly helps. Yes, the game attracts princes and oligarchs, but may also be played by the local veterinarian, real estate agent, blacksmith or carpenter.

Some polo players are professionals, who make their living playing polo, teaching, or training and selling horses. Other players are dedicated amateurs, who spend much of their spare time riding and playing. Still others are more casual, playing on weekends or occasional weekdays after work. Whatever their level of commitment, all polo players share the special world of polo; a world with its own language, its own worries and preoccupations and its own set of celebrities. They are united by a shared passion for horses, a shared commitment to the sport, and a love for the game, which is like no other game on earth.

Check us out on Facebook (803) 643-0535 fax (803) 643-0536 toll free (800) 475-5502 flowers and

The Ivy Cottage!

206 Park Ave. SE Aiken, S.C. 29801

Your premier prov ider for riding arenas across the Ea st Coast. Specializing in the constr uction of indoor and outdoor arenas and installation of premium foot ing.

Tom Thayer & Randy Rizor

Above: Lauren Proctor-Brown

Below: Malia Bryan & Robyn Leitner; Kimberley von Stade

Pam Gleason

Pam Gleason

Richard Schmon

Above: Rain can't stop Josh Escapite

Below: Tessa Callaghan Lord; Derek Berg

Pam Gleason

Richard Schmon

Richard Schmon

Marking History A Tribute to Aiken Polo

By Pam Gleason

On Sunday, March 29, Allen Riddick, the president of the Aiken County Historical Society, unveiled a new historical marker at Whitney Field. The marker commemorates polo in Aiken, where the first official game was played in 1882. This game was organized by Clarence Sutherland Wallace, a New Yorker who had moved to Aiken along with his wife Jennie around 1877. Wallace’s descendants, including his granddaughter Mary Grimes, three great granddaughters, and three great-great granddaughters

were on hand for the informal ceremony. They had traveled to Aiken from across the country and as far away as the Cayman Islands to honor their ancestor.

Aiken’s first game was described in a contemporary article published in the Charleston News and Courier as a gala affair attended by 10,000 spectators. The day also included entertainment provided by a military band, and polo was said to have “caused a great sensation and revolutionized the city as far as amusements are concerned.”

Above: Allen Riddick and Gary Bunker with C.S. Wallace's descendants: Great granddaughters Jennie Roman, Terry Grimes, Claudia Grimes; gradddaughter Mary Grimes, great great granddaughters Alexandra Roman, Rachel Roman, Isabel Thomas.

Not a great deal is known about the exact location of Aiken’s first game, although Aiken players have long believed that the spot was modern day Whitney Field. In any case, by the turn of the 20th century, Aiken sported several polo fields, and the one owned by William Collins Whitney was the best. He had purchased the property from his friend, Thomas Hitchcock, who had constructed a polo field inside a track for his racehorses during the 1890s. In 1901, Whitney completely remade the field, installing a drainage system and planting it with the smoothest turf. Then he deeded it to the Whitney Trust, which he had formed to promote “sports and pastimes” in Aiken.

“Mr. Wallace ...has done more to build up Aiken in the past twenty-five years than any other man in it.”

The new historical marker has been permanently installed on Mead Avenue near the entrance to Whitney Field. It pays tribute to Aiken’s long and distinguished polo history, which includes such illustrious players as Tommy Hitchcock, who was the best player in America between World War I and World War II. Both sides of the marker are filled with Aiken polo history. Much of the information on the marker is quite well known, but some of it is not. When people talk about polo history in Aiken, they often mention the Hitchcocks, who are firmly associated with the sport’s early years in the city. However, Clarence Sutherland Wallace, the person who actually brought

Aiken Polo manager Tiger Kneece poses with the family

polo to Aiken, has not always received the credit he deserves. According to his granddaughter Mary Grimes, Wallace was a musical composer who also worked as an executive at the Havemeyer Sugar Company on Long Island. He and his wife Jennie were both devoted to horses, and Clarence served as captain of polo in New York, where he ran the local club, arranged the games, and even helped players find accommodations for their horses when they came in from out of town.

Clarence left his job at the sugar company and relocated the family to Aiken because of its healthful climate – both he and Jennie may have suffered from tuberculosis. Once he started polo in Aiken, he continued to run the games for many years. Unfortunately, however, neither he nor Jennie would live to old age. Jennie died in 1901 at the age of 38. Clarence died in 1903 at 51. Their four orphaned children were sent away from Aiken to be raised by relatives in other parts of the country.

Although Wallace’s role in helping to establish the Aiken Winter Colony is not much talked about today, his newspaper obituary made it clear just how important he was. “Mr. Wallace was instrumental in first attracting the attention of winter tourists to Aiken,” it read. “He has done more to build up Aiken in the past twenty-five years than any other man in it.”

The marker was presented at the Alan Corey Pavilion in between the two Sunday games. It was a beautiful sunny day and a large crowd was on hand. The marker was covered with a sheet, which unexpectedly blew off before the presenters could finish their speeches.

“I think Clarence Sutherland Wallace did that,” said Allen Riddick, and everyone laughed. It was a great day to celebrate the past, remember the beginnings of a beloved tradition, and look forward to a long future of polo in Aiken.

Left: Clarence Sutherland Wallace and family Right: Polo in Aiken, 1893

Dennys Santana

Pam Gleason

Above: Reagan Leitner

Below: Summer Kneece; Sam Shinn

Pam Gleason

Pam Gleason

Pam Gleason

Above: Max Hempt & Chilo Cordova; Grace Beck

Below: Madison Jordan

Pam Gleason

Pam Gleason

Pam Gleason

Above: Hugh Worsham & Dennys Santana

Below: Umpire Eddy Martinez; Marcos Onetto & Pedro Lara;

Pam Gleason

Pam Gleason

Pam Gleason

Above: Sophie Grant; Anna Coscia

Below: Charlie Hutchinson

Pam Gleason

Richard Schmon

Pam Gleason

Above: Joaquin Vilgre; Jennifer Williams

Below: Lucas Arellano & Eduardo Perez

Pam Gleason

Richard Schmon

Pam Gleason

Polo Glossary

Understand the players! Like any other sport, polo has its own language. Some terms come directly out of the equestrian world. Others are unique to polo. Here are a few of the most common terms and what they mean.

Bluebook: The official rulebook and year book published by the United States Polo Association. This book includes all the rules, which are updated regularly, as well as the results from the previous year’s tournaments, the names and handicaps of all the country’s registered players, and a directory of clubs.

Bump: A player may ride into his or her opponent in order to spoil a shot or remove the opponent from the play. The angle of the bump must be no greater than 45 degrees. Although a bump can be quite hard, it may not endanger either horse or rider. A bump is “dangerous riding” and a foul if either horse is significantly ahead of the other, going much faster than the other, or if the bump causes either mount to lose its balance.

Chukker: A period in polo is called a “chukker,” or sometimes a “chukka.” Each chukker lasts seven and a half minutes and there are usually either four or six chukkers in each game. After each chukker, the players leave the field and then return with fresh horses for the next chukker. A horse may play one or at most two chukkers in a game.

Divot: A loose piece of turf created by galloping hooves, or by horses stopping and turning quickly. At halftime, spectators are invited on the field to replace the divots, otherwise known as “stomping the divots.”

Flagger: An official stationed behind each goal to determine whether or not a goal has been scored. If yes, the flagger waves the flag over his or her head; if no, down by the feet. Flaggers must be fit and have quick reflexes! Otherwise they might be in danger of getting run over.

Foul: Also a “penalty.” A foul is any infringement of the rules. When the umpires blow their whistles, time stops and the team fouled takes a free hit. Depending on the severity of the foul, the free hit may be from the point of the infraction, or closer to the goal. If the umpires determine that there was no actual foul or that both teams fouled simultaneously, they may have a throw-in instead of the foul shot.

Goal: The purpose of polo is to score goals by hitting the ball through the goal posts. It doesn’t matter how high in the air a player hits the ball: as long as it passes between the parallel lines created by the goal posts, it counts as a goal. After each goal

is scored, the teams switch directions and return to the center of the field for a throw-in. Goal is also a term for a handicap, as in “How many goals are you?”

Groom: The person who cares for, tacks, untacks and washes the horses during the game. Many players have fulltime grooms whose jobs may also include caring for, training and exercising the player’s horses six or seven days a week, as well as driving the truck and trailer, cleaning the tack and even cleaning the player’s boots and knee pads. Other players employ a groom on a game-by-game basis, and otherwise care for the horses themselves.

Half Goal: In lower rated tournaments, the outcome of the game might be decided by half goals, which are generally not reflected on the scoreboard. Several years ago, the USPA addressed what it called “handicap compression” on the lower end of the handicap scale by establishing three “half goal” ratings. These are a B.5 (minus one half) and A.5 (plus one half) and a 1.5 (one and a half). As a result, it will often happen that one team will be rated half a goal less than the other team. In this case, if the scoreboard reflects a tie, the lower rated team will actually be the winner by a half goal. The half goal ratings only count in 8 goal polo and below.

Handicap: Every player is assigned a handicap from C (-2) to 10 goals. This handicap reflects the player’s theoretical worth to his team and has nothing whatever to do with how many goals he might score during a match. On each team, the four players’ handicaps are added together to arrive at a team handicap. Team handicaps are used to classify tournaments: in a 6 goal tournament, the teams have a maximum of six goals. If a 5-goal team plays against a 6-goal team, the 5-goal team will start the game with one goal on handicap.

Hook: A defensive play. A player may hook or strike at his opponent’s mallet when the opponent is in the act of hitting at the ball. He may not reach over, under or across his opponent’s horse: this is a cross hook and a foul. A high hook above the level of the player’s shoulder is also a foul. Sometimes a player commits a foul hook accidentally. An inadvertent foul hook merits a free hit from the spot.

Line of the Ball: The imaginary line that the ball creates from where a player hits it to where it is going. The line extends indefinitely across the field. Many of the right-of-way rules in polo are based on the concept of the line of the ball. Generally, one tries not to cross the line of the ball, especially in front of someone who is on the line.

Knock-in: When the ball goes over the endline but not through the goal posts, the team defending that goal gets a free hit or knock-in from the point where the ball went out. Attacking players must stay 30 yards away from the hitter until the ball is in play.

Mallet: The polo stick. Mallet canes are made of malacca, a type of palm and the head is typically made of tipa wood from South America. Since polo is not croquet, players do not have to hit the ball with the pointed end of the mallet. Instead, they hit it with the side of the head, at the juncture of the head and the cane. The play never stops just because one of the players has broken or dropped a mallet.

Near Side: The left side of the horse. One normally handles the horse on his near side. A near side shot is one taken on the left side of the horse. All players carry their mallets in their right hands, so to execute a near side shot, they must lean across the horse. Near side shots are more difficult than off side (right side) shots.

Neck Shot: a shot made under the horse’s neck, causing the ball to travel at an angle in front of the horse. Players must lean forward and hit the ball well in front of them to execute a neck shot properly. Otherwise, the ball might bounce into the pony’s galloping legs.

Off Side: The right side of the horse. The most common shot in polo is an off side forehand.

Open: (a) A shot that travels at an angle away from the horse, either backwards or forwards. Also called a cut shot or an away shot. (b) A polo game that is played without consideration of handicaps – in other words, a lower handicapped team would not receive any goals to start with.

Pick-up stick: A stick with a special end that allows the umpire to pick up a polo ball from the ground.

Pony: Although they are full-sized, full-grown horses, polo mounts are called ponies. This term comes from the early modern history of polo when players did ride ponies. Today, the majority of polo horses in America are Thoroughbred horses, some of which began their careers on the racetrack. Others were specifically bred for the sport and may be

Thoroughbreds or Thoroughbreds crossed with North or South American ranch stock.

Pony Goal: a goal that is scored by a pony kicking it in. Pony goals count just as much as goals scored by players. If your pony scores a goal, the trick, of course, is to make sure that he kicks it through the correct goal. No one likes to ride a pony that is scoring points for the opposition!

Ride-off: In a ride-off, a player encourages his horse to lean into his opponent’s horse in order to keep his opponent from hitting the ball. The rider may also make contact with his opponent, but only with his shoulder: Elbowing is a foul.

Safety: If a defending player hits the ball over his own endline, the umpires blow the whistle for a safety. The attacking team takes a foul shot 60 yards out, parallel to the point at which the ball went out of bounds.

Shoot-Out: If the game is tied at the end of the game and the players do not want to play a sudden death chukker, or have already played one, the winner can be determined by a shoot-out. In this case, each player on each team takes a turn hitting a 40 foul shot. When all four players on each team have hit, the team that has scored the most goals is declared the winner by one goal. If the teams are tied, then the players hit again in turn until one team comes out ahead.

Stick and Ball: practicing polo by cantering around, hitting the ball.

Sideboards: Low boards that help keep the ball from going out of bounds. Although play stops if the ball goes over the boards, horses jump them regularly and keep on playing.

Sudden Death: If the score is tied at the end of regulation play, the game goes to sudden death overtime. The overtime chukker is timed just like a regular chukker, and ends either if a team scores, or at the seven-and-a-half minute mark. It is possible for a game to go to double, or triple overtime. Often, however, if there is no winner after a full overtime chukker, the outcome of the game is determined by a shoot-out.

Tack-time: A time out that is called because one of the players has a piece of broken equipment. Unless the player with the broken equipment is in imminent danger, tack-time is only called after the play has stopped for some other reason, such as a foul or a goal. The player with broken equipment is allowed to leave the field to repair or replace the broken item. He is not allowed to change horses at this time. If a player wants to change his horse in the middle of the chukker, he does this on his own time. The timer is not stopped so that a player can change his horse.

Tail shot: A back shot executed at an angle behind the horse, under the tail. When a player calls to a teammate to “tailit!” he is asking for a tail shot. The opposite of a tail shot is a cut, or an open shot

Technical: A penalty exacted against displays of poor sportsmanship. If an umpire awards a foul and the player or team that fouled argues, the penalty might be “moved up” on a technical. Umpires ask a player who earns two technicals in a chukker, or three in a game, to leave the field.

Third Man: Also the referee. The third man sits on the sidelines and watches the play carefully. It is his duty to settle disputes between umpires by giving his opinion as to whether or not a foul was committed.

Throw-In: The way a ball is put into play in a neutral situation, such as at the beginning of the game or after a goal. The umpire lines the two teams up facing him, and then bowls the ball between them.

USPA: The United States Polo Association is the governing body of equestrian sport. Established in 1890, the USPA is the second oldest sports governing body in the U.S. (The United States Tennis Association, founded in 1881, is the oldest.) The USPA formulates and updates the rules, establishes the handicaps and works to promote and improve the sport. It is possible to join the association as a full member, a junior member or a student member. If you are a polo fan, you can even join as an associate member.

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1913

Historic Aiken Polo "Lulie" Hitchcock (1867-1934)

By Pam Gleason

Louise Eustis Hitchcock, often called the founder of Aiken’s Winter Colony, was the first woman inducted into the Polo Hall of Fame. She earned that distinction as a polo instructor and coach, not as a player: “She is the clear proof that not all polo legends are made astride a horse,” reads her bio on the Hall of Fame website. It goes on to explain that she was the wife of one 10-goaler (Thomas Hitchcock) and the mother of another (the legendary Tommy Hitchcock), and it extolls her role in training a generation of illustrious pre-World War II players.

However, “Lulie” Hitchcock was not just a teacher, she was also definitely a player. Orphaned as a young girl, she grew up under the care of her aunt, Celestine Eustis, who had a home in Aiken, and the two spent every winter in the city. In 1891, when Lulie was 24, she married Thomas Hitchcock (30) and thereafter the couple came to Aiken each season, persuading their New York friends to join them. Lulie may have learned polo from her husband, who was a founder of the Polo Association, or from her older brothers, both devoted players. In any case, by 1901, when she was the mother of a 9-year-old (Helen) and a toddler (Tommy), she participated in the first ladies’ match to be written up in the New York Times. The match took place in Aiken that March, and “a large number witnessed the contest.”

“Polo for women” as it was called, rode waves of popularity throughout the next decades. Newspapers occasionally reported on women’s games in Aiken, Camden and Greenville, South Carolina, among other places. In the early decades of the 21st century, Lulie was frequently mentioned as a participant in these matches. She was even one of the organizers of a formal women’s league at the Piping Rock Club on Long Island beginning in 1912.

There is only one contemporary account that describes Lulie Hitchcock actually playing. This comes from the memoir, Ponies and Women, written by Teign Melville, a British Army player who came to the United States in 1923. He tells of going to his first polo match in America, a boys’ game on Long Island.

“ The first words I heard shouted were; ‘Leave it Mother,’” he wrote. “This was Frankie Hitchcock . . .telling his mother, No.1 to leave the ball for him to hit; and then to my amazement I saw his mother, who was a grandmother, take out her whip, get alongside the back, and ride him off right and proper. I have never seen such a sight before or since, and I could not believe at the time she was a woman.”

Louise Hitchcock at Naragansett Pier,