INSIDE THE LINES

Family & Friends

Anna Delores Photography

With no public access to the Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club,

the last year truly became the year of the family. And while the pandemic put a damper on gatherings and festivities, many members of the polo community still realized major milestones. Most remarkably...so many polo babies! Remy Du Celliee Muller and Tica Bengston welcomed their first child; Billy Agnes Du Celliee Muller on the 5th of May. Kristen and Jim Wright also became firsttime parents, welcoming Anamarie Jackson Hiller into the world on October 16th. Anita Avendaño and Santi Wulff welcomed their third child, Lucas Wulff-Avendaño, on September 8. Love was also in the air on October 1st with the marriage of Jesse Bray and Hayley Heatley. Both raised by long-time polo families, Hayley and Jesse met at the Santa Barbara Polo Club in 2013 and always dreamed of marrying here, surrounded by friends and family. With an intimate ceremony and gathering at Klentner Ranch, their dream finally came true. Congratulations also goes to polo member Dominique Mielle, who recently published Damsel in Distress: My Life in the Golden Age of Hedge Funds, an entertaining and inspiring story from one of the most successful women in the investment industry over the past two decades. The club staff family expanded over the past year with two important new appointments: Shayna Cogan became the Director of Operations in late 2020 and Kenneth de Alday joined as the Staff Accountant in 2021. Both Shayna and Kenneth are great new additions to the club’s team moving into the 2021 season. Also new to the club: the Fieldside Grill managed by Best Beverage Catering (BBC). BBC are experts in polo hospitality, bringing years of experience at Empire, Eldorado and San Diego polo clubs. The BBC team is headed by General Manager Erin Miller, Bar Operations Manager Rachel Evans, and Executive Chef Peter Zimowski. Enjoy food and drinks hosted by BBC at the Fieldside Grill throughout the year!

CHALA TOBI

Top Honors

Meet the recipient of the Best Playing Pony Award in the 2020 Pacific Coast Open: Chala. Chala is an 8-year-old chestnut mare owned and played by Geronimo Obregon. Having arrived in the United States from Argentina two years ago, Chala played in the U.S. Open as a 6-year-old. Right away, Obregon realized the depth of the mare’s talent in a ride-off against Lucas Diaz Alberdi: “We were coming flat out, I went to bump him, and she launched across into him so hard that I almost knocked him down. I remember thinking, Wow! This horse is very strong.” Chala is now one of the top horses in Geronimo’s string, and he believes that her best is still to come. She is extremely agile and quick on every play. But what makes her most memorable, according to Obregon, is her head for the game. Chala is always ready to compete, continually anticipates her next move, and has great respect for the ball – setting up Geronimo for clean hits again and again. When Tobi arrived at Sarah Siegel-Magness’ farm two years ago, sight unseen, the unique Argentine-born paint mare was originally intended for her son Cable. Plans quickly changed when Sarah first sat on Tobi and instantly felt a connection; and the two have continued to grow together ever since. Whether competing in 8-Goal, 20-Goal, or more recently the Women’s Open in Florida, Sarah relies on Tobi to give her a consistent, confidence-building chukker. “I used to save Tobi for my last chukker, but now I play her first because I know I will always start my game strong.” To top it off, Tobi is one of the most photogenic horses on any field and never takes a bad picture. It’s no surprise that Tobi was awarded 2020 Club Pony of the Year or that Sarah has decided to keep Tobi’s bloodline in her string for as long as possible, having recently bred the mare to Adolfo Cambiaso’s stallion Festival via surrogate. “She’s a great horse, in every way. When you think she can’t get any better, she does.”

Lighting Up

Arena Nights

Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club addressed the longstanding need for expanded teaching hours at the Polo Academy with six new arena lights. Leading the project was Westmont Alum and twotime Intercollegiate National Champion, Tony Uretz. The brilliantly illuminated arena nestled amongst the foothills of Carpinteria is now able to accommodate evening practices and games throughout the winter. In partnership with Polo Training Center Santa Barbara, a fundraising campaign facilitated the project. The University of California Santa Barbara (UCSB) and Westmont College call the Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club arena home. During project manager Tony Uretz’ tenure at Westmont, he and brother Patrick Uretz spent countless hours practicing. With daylight hours being a limiting factor during the winter, Uretz was intimately familiar with the need for new lighting. Fast forward several years, Tony completed an internship and accepted a full-time position with Justin Klentner at Western Built Construction. When the club approached Klentner, he knew Tony was the perfect person to lead the project. “It feels like I have come full-circle with this light installation. This was my summer and college polo home. Installing arena lights will allow the club to host activities after business hours and introduce locals to the sport. I am excited to see the club continue to grow,” says Uretz. The arena’s expanded operating hours had an immediate impact on the Polo Academy’s activities. During the winter, the Interscholastic team practiced twice a week in the evening and all Intercollegiate players were able to practice 3 times a week. Polo Academy Director, Jeff Scheraga, hopes the flexible playing hours will also encourage people in the local community to come try polo after work hours. The polo arena is now in fine form to accommodate students and players throughout the year.

Rising Stars WILL BUSCH CABLE MAGNESS

Will Busch and Cable Magness are the newest additions to the crew of handsome young polo players at the Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club. With a longstanding tradition of polo in the Busch family, Will returns to the sport after graduating from University of San Diego. Magness stepped into the saddle more recently and shares a serious passion for the sport with his mother, Sarah Siegel-Magness, and father, Gary Magness.

“I really enjoy the fact that I can play polo with my parents. It’s a sport where age really doesn’t matter.”

Cable Magness

On taking up the sport

Magness: I learned how to ride first and then I began playing polo about 3 years ago. Busch: I've been playing polo since I can remember. There are photos of my brothers and me playing in Florida and Santa Barbara when we were just little guys.

On best playing ponies

Magness: I would have to say my horse named Saint. She’s so reliable and there isn’t a moment where I don’t feel comfortable while riding or playing her. Busch: My favorite horse is a mare of Santi Wulff’s named Mandella. She is a horse that has everything: athleticism, power, handiness, and speed. It’s fairly common to find one or maybe two of those attributes in a horse, but when they have it all, they are pretty special.

On what they love most about polo

Magness: I really enjoy the fact that I can play polo with my parents. It’s a sport where age really doesn’t matter. Busch: The horses.

On pre-game rituals

Magness: I often stop at Starbucks and get a sausage and egg sandwich before a game! Busch: I’ve tried to make myself a pre-game ritual because some of my favorite athletes have them, like Rafael Nadal lining up his water bottles label out before every game, or Shaun Alexander eating spaghetti and meatballs the night before. But nothing has really stuck with me yet!

On their favorite field

Magness: I love to play on my own fields at Cancha de Estrellas in Santa Barbara.

Busch: The field at Folded Hills is my favorite – it’s home for me. Zack Sayler also does a hell of a job managing it!

On the must-go polo destination

Magness: I think playing in Dubai would be absolutely amazing. Busch: Argentina, without question.

QUICK-FIRE Q’s

SPEED or HANDLE? Magness: Speed Busch: Handle

COFFEE or MATE? Magness: Coffee Busch: Morning coffee, afternoon mate

BAY or GREY? Magness: Bay Busch: That’s a tough one - Grey

OVERTIME or PENALTY SHOOTOUT? Magness: Overtime Busch: Shootouts are the worst! Definitely overtime.

BEACH DAY or POLO MATCH? Magness: Beach day Busch: Polo match

NETFLIX or LIVESTREAM POLO? Magness: Netflix Busch: both!

A PLACE LIKE NO OTHER

30 years in the making, the Orange County Polo Club is a venue unlike any other, offering both stunning event spaces and a variety of polo experiences for you and your guests to enjoy. Although the ranch is located only thirty minutes from Newport Beach, you’ll immediately find yourself transported as you drive through the rolling hills and winding roads of Silverado Canyon.

• Year round turn-key polo for all levels • Polo school and Interscholastic team • Charming ranch style polo barns and locker room • Member + guest events in the Clubhouse • Plan your next private event with us!

@ocpoloclub #Poloattheranch #Notyouraveragecocktailparty

A GLOBAL WINGSPAN

Jetcraft is the leader in international aircraft sales, marketing and ownership strategies, managing and maintaining over 20 regional offices globally.

The company’s unparalleled success over more than 55 years in business aviation has earned it a world-class reputation, along with an exceptional customer base, a wide network of connections and one of the largest inventories within the industry.

More on our company, our global team, and a full line up of our current inventory may be viewed online at Jetcraft.com

AIRCRAFT SALES MARKETING OWNERSHIP STRATEGIES

Please contact me to learn how I can simplify your aircraft acquisitions or maximize your selling opportunities for your existing aircraft.

Marius Breitenbach Sales Director +1 214 763 3771 marius.breitenbach@jetcraft.com

Top Honors