For nearly 140 years, Chicago has held a unique position in American polo as a Midwestern hub and international polo destination. It is deeply rooted in the history of sport in Chicago. Chicago Polo represents a group of local public and private Chicagoland polo clubs that have built a partnership around promoting and growing the sport locally and internationally. This season, join the upwards of 15,000 polo fans, players, and pros from across the Midwest and the world who will join us for Chicago’s oldest Sunday tradition. From the sidelines and stands on the immaculate fields of Oak Brook Polo Club and Arranmore Farm & Polo Club, you will experience world-class polo, field-side tailgating, signature cocktails and local fare, champagne divot stops, and pre-match festivities. The 2017 Chicago Polo season kicks off June 11. See schedule and ticket info on page 20.
Paul Butler draws team matchups for the 1955 U.S. Open, with America’s only 10 goal player and Captain of the Oak Brook team Cecil Smith, on his right.
Photo by Time Stops Photography
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CHICAGO POLO CUP
SUNDAY, JULY 23: OPENING GAME AT ARRANMORE FARM & POLO CLUB SUNDAY, JULY 30: CHAMPIONSHIP GAME AT OAK BROOK POLO CLUB GATES OPEN: 1:00 PM | MATCH START: 3:00 PM Watch the best teams from Chicago, Illinois and the Midwest compete in a week-long 8–12 goal tournament. The Chicago Polo Cup is a rebirth of Chicago’s history in hosting rival
polo teams from around the Midwest and the United States, such as St. Louis, Indianapolis, Louisville, Minneapolis and many more.
Tickets for the July 23 opener: arranmorefarmandpoloclub.com Tickets for the July 30 final: oakbrookpoloclub.com
CONTENTS 13 WELCOME FROM ARRANMORE FARM & POLO CLUB 15 WELCOME FROM OAK BROOK POLO CLUB 19 THE PLAYBOOK
The 2017 Chicago Polo season playbook lays out the season schedule (20), as well as Chicagoland clubs (22), teams (25), players (26) and pros (29).
30 SPECTATOR’S GUIDE
For those new to the game, this guide breaks down the rules of play to help you follow the action on the field.
36 THE GATEWAY TO INTERNATIONAL POLO
70 POLO INSPIRED
Polo style that celebrates the good things in life.
A retrospective of Chicago’s place as an international hub for polo from the 1920s through to today.
76
48
The 2016 Chicago Polo Season in pictures.
FROM PICNIC TO POSH: THE ART OF TAILGATING
86
Tips for enjoying the staggering tailgating possibilities offered at Arranmore and Oak Brook this season.
ON THE FIELD
ON THE SIDELINES
The experience of polo spills out of the field and into the crowd.
58 CHICAGO’S LEADING LADIES
Meet some of the influential women players who have helped shape the Chicago polo scene.
9
CHICAGO POLO MAGAZINE Lisa Muirhead, Poise Publications PUBLISHER Leigh McKenzie ART DIRECTOR Megan Kozminski, Media Spur CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Daniel O’Leary and Shannon Greene Robb MAGAZINE ADVISORS Photographers: Bari Baskin, TimeStops Photography; Morgan Terlouw, Verdigris Photography; Karl Knapp; and Thomas Reinacher Contributors: George Alexander, Jorie Butler Kent, Michael Butler, Reute Butler, Norma Cooke, James Drury, Samantha Falbe, Angela Hunt, Stephanie Kraml-Suttle, Kathy Maher, Bob McMurtry, Frauke Lueders, Matias Obregon, Tod Rackley, Whitney Vogt, Megan West, Clifton Yandel.
Arranmore Farm & Polo Club John Greene OWNER, Shannon Greene Robb PRESIDENT + CEO Jenin Paradise VENUE DIRECTOR + EVENT COORDINATOR, Lara Filip ARTISTIC DIRECTOR + PRODUCER, Heidi Booth FINANCE + MARKETING MANAGER, Lisa Gangi SPONSORSHIP + VIP COORDINATOR, Marie McIntyre CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE COORDINATOR, Daphne Ortiz, Statement PR PUBLIC RELATIONS, John Sternisha GRAPHIC DESIGN + VIDEOGRAPHER Jose Blanco HEAD TRAINER, Colin Rojas GROUNDSKEEPER, Mario Torres ASSISTANT GROUNDSKEEPER, Robert Wilkinson and Paul Picero POLO ANNOUNCERS
Oak Brook Polo Club Michael Butler, HONORARY CHAIRMAN, James Drury PRESIDENT, Daniel O’Leary MANAGING DIRECTOR Pam Snyder EVENT MANAGER, Hollis Onetto EVENT MANAGER, Judy Reyes EVENT MANAGER, Daphne Ortiz, COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR, Jocelyn Donnelly EXECUTIVE AND ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Oak Brook Polo Club Advisory Committee: Michael Butler, Beverly Taylor, Roger Taylor, John Baar, Donna Bettin, Sean Creed, Karl Maurer, Tod Rackley and Rob Wilkinson Special thanks: Reute Butler, Jorie Butler Kent, Norm Canfield, Norma Cooke, Stewart Diamond, Samantha Falbe, Pamela Flanagan, Riccardo Ginex, Shannon Greene Robb, Liz Hancock, Gopal Lalmaiani, Kathy Maher, Steve Mansmith, Bob McMurtry, James Nagle, James Pehta, Bob Puetz, Luis Pineda, David Rolewick, Stephanie Kraml Suttle, Village of Oak Brook Trustees, Oak Brook Golf Club, Oak Brook Sports Core, Oak Brook Chamber of Commerce. Chicago Polo is a division of Arranmore Events LLC. Cover: Bari Baskin, Time Stops Photography Pantone 1795 C CMYK 9/99/95/1 Pantone Black C CMYK 0/0/0/100
Printed in Canada, by Transcontinental Printers. ©2017 Chicago Polo. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part of any material in this magazine is expressly prohibited. 4/c Logo
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We applaud your ability to perform when it matters most Merrill Lynch is proud to support Chicago Polo. Our financial advisors recognize the talent, focus and determination that set you apart. Believe in your goals. We do.
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n behalf of Arranmore Farm & Polo Club, it is our honor to welcome you to the 2017 Arranmore Summer Season! Arranmore is excited to present another incredible summer of polo, concerts, and special events. This season, every Wednesday evening at the club means Wine Down Wednesday Polo, a weekly polo series that runs through July and August. Make it a casual tailgate or gather friends for a fancy spread, enjoy a glass of wine, and have the pleasure of partaking in Dark Horse’s empanadas. In addition to our Arranmore Farm & Polo weekly Wednesdays, Arranmore will host three Sunday polo tournaments, including the Club, Chicagoland’s Chicago Polo Cup, the Women’s Invitational, most unique polo and and the third annual Arranmore Polo Classic. events property, is Arranmore’s summer nights would where polo and the not be complete without our signature arts meet! Outdoor Concert Series. In our fifth season of Cabernet Cabaret (CabCab), Chicagoland musicians will come together for one-of-akind performances under the stars.
Arranmore’s pristine, expansive property continues to be an extraordinary destination for special events, weddings, corporate outings, photo shoots, and more. With the breathtaking views and world-class polo fields, Arranmore offers an unforgettable experience for those looking to plan a unique event. The entire Arranmore family would like to take this opportunity to thank our esteemed sponsors, advertisers, polo players, and guests for your continued support and loyalty. It is you, who are at the heart of Arranmore Farm & Polo Club and our traditions. Cheers,
SGR Shannon Greene Robb President & CEO Arranmore Events, Chicago Polo
JG
John Greene Owner Arranmore Farm & Polo Club
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WELCOME | OAK BROOK POLO CLUB
I
The historic Oak Brook Polo Club celebrates our 95th year by welcoming world-class local and international polo players to our fields.
t is with great privilege that I welcome you to experience the magic, pageantry, and thrill of polo during Oak Brook Polo Club’s 2017 Season. The tradition of Sunday polo at Oak Brook has been one of incomparable fun and excitement, the likes of which you may never have experienced—and will certainly never forget. During our 95th season, the Oak Brook Polo Club will be hosting seven Sunday Polo matches, on the legendary Prince of Wales field. Highlights will include the return of our popular Horses & Horsespower matchup between Ferrari and Maserati; and the Midwest’s premier polo tournament—the Chicago Polo Cup. The expansion of our International Polo Series continues. It will now showcase three back-to-back international match-ups featuring teams from Jamaica, India, and Great Britain. The teams will compete for Oak Brook Polo’s most revered trophies, including the Drake Challenge Cup and the coveted Butler Challenge Cup.
This season will mark the return of the popular Wales Polo Team. The British team, captained by Prince Charles, last played in Oak Brook in 1986, in front of 20,000 spectators. Oak Brook Polo has a long and storied history of hosting teams and players from across the globe—India to Mexico, and Argentina to Canada. I am honored for the opportunity to act as a steward for the traditions that make Oak Brook Polo Club so unique in the world, and to champion the resurgence of our city as an international hub for polo. Working with a superb team and new strategic partners, my aspiration is to make the incredible sport of polo more accessible to the people of Chicago. The entire Oak Brook Polo Club team is excited to provide the opportunity for our guests to learn, and enjoy, this game while preserving our club’s historic legacy for many years to come. See you at the field,
Jim Drury President, Oak Brook Polo Club
Daniel O’Leary, Managing Director, Oak Brook Polo Club
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3RD ANNUAL USPA ARRANMORE POLO CLASSIC SUNDAY, AUGUST 27 | GATES OPEN: 1:00 PM | MATCH START: 3:00 PM
The USPA Arranmore Polo Classic is Arranmore Farm & Polo Club’s signature tournament event. Guests are treated
with unique pre-match access to the club’s barns and horses, along with premium field-side views of the action.
For event and ticket information, please visit arranmorefarmandpoloclub.com
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T H E PL AY B O O K
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SCHEDULE
T H E 2 01 7 P O LO S E AS O N : JUNE 11 TO SEPTEMBER 10
C
hicago’s polo tradition dates back 95 years to 1922, when Oak Brook Polo Club was established. The sport thrived in Chicago, with the 1950s to the 1980s seeing Chicago as the country’s premier polo destination. Chicago Polo has grown into a community of clubs, players, and pros that host the best of polo from all over the world. No membership is necessary to come and enjoy a day of polo at Oak Brook and Arranmore. Join us Sundays for field seating (only $10 per person), load up your car with friends and food for a unique tailgating experience ($45 per car), or enjoy a range of experiences for you and your guests, including club guests, VIP tents, club boxes, and custom event experiences. More information and tickets for polo games are available on the club websites: Arranmore Farm & Polo Club: arranmorefarmandpoloclub.com Oak Brook Polo Club: oakbrookpoloclub.com
For more club information, please see page 22.
20
June 11: Chicago Polo Day/Season Opener (Oak Brook) June 25: Commander’s Cup (Oak Brook) July 1: Officer’s Cup July 9: Horses & Horsepower (Oak Brook) July 8–9: Governor’s Cup July 12: Wine Down Wednesday Polo July 15-16: Central Circuit Senior’s Tournament (Blackberry) July 15: Officer’s Cup finals July 15: Jack Murphy Sr Memorial July 19: Wine Down Wednesday Polo July 23: Chicago Polo Cup Opener (Arranmore) July 26: Wine Down Wednesday Polo July 29-30: Central Circuit Women’s Tournament (Blackberry) July 30: Chicago Polo Cup Championship (Oak Brook) July 30: Jack Murphy Sr Memorial Finals August 2: Wine Down Wednesday Polo August 6: Drake Challenge Cup: OakBrook vs. Jamaica (Oak Brook) August 9: Wine Down Wednesday Polo August 13: Women’s Invitational (Arranmore) August 16: Wine Down Wednesday Polo August 19-20: Sportsman’s Cup August 20: Butler Challenge Cup: Oak Brook vs. India (Oak Brook) August 23: Wine Down Wednesday Polo August 27: Arranmore Polo Classic (Arranmore) August 30: Wine Down Wednesday Polo September 1: Paul Heisse Memorial Sept 10: International Cup: Oak Brook vs Great Britain (Oak Brook)
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BLUE: game at Oak Brook Polo Club; GREEN: game at Arranmore Farm & Polo Club; Purple: game at Blackberry Polo Club; Black: game location TBA
21
THE CLUBS
Chicago Polo is a network of players, pros and clubs that have formed a strong community to support the sport of kings. Arranmore Farm & Polo Club and Oak Brook Polo Club serve as the two public clubs that welcome spectators to weekly games; however, in the surrounding area, players who have a passion for the sport have set up their own fields and arenas to support the growth and comradery of polo.
A R R A N M O R E FA R M & P O L O C L U B Arranmore Farm & Polo Club is situated on 300 acres of family-owned and operated land on the edge of suburban Chicago. It is home to some of the most pristine fields in the United States. Each summer season, the club hosts players from all over the world who are drawn by a shared passion for the sport and the club’s renowned polo fields. Located 40 minutes from downtown Chicago, Arranmore Farm & Polo Club has held private polo matches since 1999, and opened its gates for the club’s first public polo matches in 2015. Its summer calendar also includes a series of outdoor music concerts, festivals and charity events. Along with two world-class polo fields, Arranmore is a working polo farm including six stables, large pastures, a clubhouse, and a historic farmhouse. For information about events and tickets, visit www.arranmorefarmandpoloclub.com
OA K B R O O K P O LO C LU B Established in 1922, the Oak Brook Polo Club is an American polo treasure. It was once the sport’s epicenter for elite professional polo in the United States and served as home to the U.S. Open Polo Championship for 24 straight seasons. For decades, Sunday Polo has drawn Hollywood celebrities, dignitaries, royalty and Chicago’s distinguished set. Sunday Polo is open to the public, who can enjoy field seating, tailgating, and half-time divot stomps. Games are played on the Prince of Wales Field, which is adjacent to the Butler National Golf Course and The Drake Hotel in beautiful Oak Brook, Illinois. For information about events and tickets, visit www.oakbrookpoloclub.com
B L AC K B E R RY P O LO C LU B Blackberry Polo Club was organized on George and Barb Alexander’s Lake Run Farm in Batavia in 1986 as a venue for recreational polo. Practice sessions and matches with visiting teams, followed by a gathering under the trees with a nearby smoking grill and cold keg are the Blackberry tradition. The club also hosts a National Youth Series tournament, a Polo Training Foundation Seniors’ Tournament and the Central Circuit Women’s Challenge tournament each summer season.
22
DUE WEST Due West was established in 2002 by Clifton Yandale. The 35-acre farm’s polo field serves as a practice field for players in the area. People from the Chicago Polo community assemble at Due West on Tuesdays for casual chukkers to get some time in on the field and to socialize with others in the polo community. Friends and family dot the hill overlooking the field and players will often stay after the game to grill and take in the incredible sunset before heading home.
M O R G A N C R E E K P O LO C LU B Morgan Creek Polo Club was founded in 1995 by Angelo and Dean Kleronomos. Its polo history includes Laurel Team Polo and Maple Lane Polo Club dating back to 1980. The 200-acre horse farm in rural Oswego, Illinois, has two polo fields, an indoor arena, clubhouse, player and groom apartments, 40 stalls, 10 large turnouts, and a galloping track. Morgan Creek teams have participated in 8–22 goal polo in Wellington, Aiken, Oak Brook, and Chicago. Angelo and Dean have played internationally in Canada, France, Germany, and Argentina.
PA S S I O N F O R P O L O Frauke and Jan-Dirk Lueders caught the polo bug in 2013 after attending polo school in Barrington Hill. They eagerly sought out a place to develop their skills and their string of horses, and purchased what is now the Passion for Polo farm in 2013. Since they acquired their property, their polo string has grown from 4 to 17, and they have almost completed construction on what will be the only regulation-size indoor polo arena in the Midwest. They are also in the process of developing a full-size outdoor field, where they will host friends and develop their Passion for Polo team.
W I N D R I D G E FA R M Located 30 minutes from downtown Chicago, Windridge Farm is an equestrian hunter jumper facility with polo benefits. On the equestrian side, Windridge Farm offers a Riding School for new riders; in addition, Taylor McMurtry trains students who attend competitions from the local to the international level. There are two indoor arenas and two polo fields on the 60-acre property that support both the riding and polo programs. The polo side of the farm is overseen by Bob McMurtry, USPA Circuit Governor for the Central region. What is special about Windridge is that each year, polo pro Matias Obregon and Juan Martin Gutierrez run a polo school catering to new and up-and-coming players: they offer lessons, horses for lease, and full tack for new players. As an opportunity for polo school students and area players to get some field time, Windridge hosts club-level 4-chukker tournaments for the -2 to 0 goal players throughout the summer.Â
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THE TEAMS
FA R M
MORGAN CREEK
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LEAGUE PLAYERS C H I C AG O P O LO Jim Drury
(A)
Samantha Falbe
(A)
Pamela Flanagan
(A)
Alvaro Font
(A)
Carlitos Font
(A.5)
Maximo Font
(B)
Memo Font
(A)
John Greene
(1)
Juan Gutierrez
(2)
Jose Labbe
(3)
Adam Kaminsky
(A)
Oliver Kerdiles Nadir Khan
(1)
Dean Kleronomos
(2)
Frauke Lueders
(B.5)
Jan-Dirk Lueders
(A)
Bob McMurtry
26
(NR)
(A.5)
Bill O’Leary
(A)
Renata Sanfilippo
(A)
Tony Sekera
(B)
Mimi Shirey
(A)
Chris Vangel
(2)
Cliff Yandel
(1)
VISITING PLAYERS Rachel Turner
(1)
Charlie Chambers
(A)
Adam Long
(A)
Jason Wates
(3)
Zander Melville
(3)
Marc Melville
(3)
Danny Melville
(2)
Vikram Singh Sodhi
(1)
Amit Sangwan
(1)
Deepak Udar
(1)
Samir Suhag
(5)
Ricky Cooper
(A)
Roddy Matthews
(4)
Richard Blake-Thomas (2) Andrew Blake- Thomas (3) Pete Webb
(6)
27
WEDNESDAY POLO
JULY 12 – AUGUST 30 | GATES OPEN: 5:00 PM | MATCH START: 5:30 PM
Wine Down Wednesday Polo is a tradition at Arranmore Farm & Polo Club. Wednesdays in July and August, a late afternoon match is open to an enthusiastic public. Cars park
next to the field for tailgating and a breathtaking up-close vantage point to enjoy the action. Bring family and friends out for the mid-week treat!
For event and ticket information, please visit: arranmorefarmandpoloclub.com
TH E P ROS In the sport of polo, professional players bring their talent, carefully trained string of horses, and experience to the team. Team sponsors will hire professionals to play on their teams and help to develop their skills on the field. Many pros travel across the country over the course of a year and play for different sponsors at different clubs, depending on the season. C H I C AG O P O LO P R O S 2 01 7
Anthony Garcia
(5)
Maco Llambias
(5)
Mariano Gutierrez
(4)
Matias Obregon
(4)
Tomas Obregon
(4)
Horatio Onetto
(4)
Adrian Garcia
(3)
Tod Rackley
(3)
Jason Wates
(3)
29
S P E C TAT O R ’ S G U I D E
A BRIEF HISTORY
Polo originated in Persia sometime between the sixth and first century BC as part sport and part training for war, with cavalry “teams” growing to up to 100 players per side. The game eventually spread to Constantinople, Tibet, China, Japan, and India. Polo started its move west when British officers learned the sport of kings in India. It hit England in 1869 and traveled over the pond to the United States in 1876, when the father of U.S. polo, James Gordon Bennett, saw his first game in England and brought the sport home with him to New York. The sport first came to Chicago in the late-19th century, and the first truly established club was Oak Brook Polo Club, which was founded by Paul Butler in 1922.
THE BASICS
There are two types of polo: outdoor polo and indoor, or arena, polo. An outdoor polo match is played on a 300 x 160 yard (9-acre) field—approximately the size of nine football fields. The arena field is smaller, 300 x 100 feet, and the game is played with a ball similar to a mini soccer ball, as opposed to the smaller hard plastic ball used for outdoors. Arena polo teams have three players, and because of the smaller scale of the arena field, each player usually fields only two horses per match. The beauty of arena polo is that is can be played all year round. A polo game begins at center field when the umpire throws the ball into play, similar to a puck dropped in hockey. Each game is divided into 7-1/2-minute periods called chukkers. A low or medium goal game has four chukkers and a high-goal game has six. At 7 minutes, a bell rings to warn the players of the end of the chukker. The second bell rings 30 seconds later to stop play. Ride-off (or bump) 30
In polo, the term “goal” can refer to several things. First, there is the kind of goal that indicates that a point is scored. A point is scored when the ball travels between the two goal posts, placed 8 yards apart, at any height. The second kind of “goal” refers to a player’s handicap rating. These “goal ratings” are based on experience and skill on the field. The United States Polo Association assigns players a goal rating between -2 (for beginners) and 10 (reserved for only the top-rated professionals), and reviews these handicaps each year. In a match, opposing teams are equally matched by adding up the rating numbers of each of their players. For example, a team competing in a 6-goal tournament must have a total handicap of 6 when the goal ratings of all four players on the team are added together. Polo is the only professional sport in which men and women are rated on the same handicap scale and compete regularly both against and with each other on the same teams.
Hook
Halftime divot stomp
THE PONIES
American polo ponies are thoroughbreds or part thoroughbred and part quarter horse. It takes 2–3 years to train a green pony, and their polo careers can last over 15 years. For player and pony safety, their tails are braided and their manes are roached (clipped) for game play. Polo ponies work really hard on the field, so most polo players play a different pony in each chukker. Players are allowed to remount at any time during a match, similar to hockey players changing lines.
31
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Player’s field positions are designated by numbers 1-4.
RULES Changing ends: After each goal, the teams change ends to level the playing conditions. If no goals are scored by half time, the teams will change ends then. Crossing: If a player crosses the player with right of way close enough that it is dangerous or approaches at too sharp an angle, they will get a foul and subsequent penalty against their team. Hooking: A player can hook another player’s mallet to prevent them from hitting if they are on the same side as the ball or directly behind the opposing player. When hooking, the mallet must be lower than shoulder height. Knock-in: When a team in an offensive drive hits the ball across the opponent’s backline, the defending team resumes play with a free hit from their backline. Right-hand play: All polo players must carry the mallet in their right hand. Left-handed play is not allowed for safety reasons.
Penalties: Fouls are called by two on-field umpires. Each infraction is given a rating between one and nine by the umpire, with the severity of the infraction determining the level of penalty awarded. If there is disagreement between the umpires, a sideline referee (called the Third Man) will make the call. Ride-off (or bump): The objective of a ride-off is to prevent an opposing player from taking a shot or to drive the player off the “line of the ball” by pressing the shoulder of one pony into another. Players can receive a foul if they approach their opponent’s pony at an unsafe angle. Right of way/line of the ball: Once a ball is hit, its trajectory establishes the line of the ball. The player closest to the ball with the narrowest angle has the “right of way.” Throw in: When a ball goes out of bounds on the sidelines, the umpire throws the ball in at that point to resume play. 33
DRAKE CHALLENGE CUP INTERNATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
SUNDAY, AUGUST 6 | GATES OPEN: 1:00 PM | MATCH START: 3:00 PM OAK BROOK VS JAMAICA Established in 1964, The Drake Challenge Cup, named after The Drake Oak Brook Hotel, is one of Oak Brook’s oldest trophies. Oak Brook welcomes back Jamaica to compete
for this prestigious cup in the first match of Oak Brook’s International Polo Series.
For event and ticket information, please visit oakbrookpoloclub.com
Timeless Elegance
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(630) 571-0000 2301 York Road, Oak Brook, IL 60523
Prince Charles takes to the Oak Brook Polo Club field in 1986 36
T H E GATE WAY
TO I N TERN ATI O NAL PO LO
P
aul Butler established the first Chicago polo club, Oak Brook Polo Club, in 1922—a club that would almost immediately establish itself as one of the international polo capitals of the world. The 1920s and early 30s were the Golden Age of polo in America, attracting crowds of up to 20,000 spectators. At that time, it was a society sport, and Oak Brook, with its Butler family pedigree, was a premier club in the Midwest. While Meadowbrook Polo Club in New York was considered the epicenter of the American polo scene, Oak Brook’s reach was always international. The years of the Depression leading up to World War II took a toll on America, and polo did not escape that. During the war, USPA tournaments were suspended, but polo carried on in Chicago at Oak Brook and on private fields. The end of the war marked an era of rebuilding the sport, and Oak Brook was poised to take a leadership role. Paul Butler (centre) with the Butler Handicap Cup (photo courtesy of the Butler Family Collection) 37
FRIENDS AND RIVALS One of the Chicago polo community’s great strengths has always been its ambassadorship to other countries. On Thursday July 7, 1938, the Chicago Tribune reported that the Cuban Army polo team was gearing up for its second in a series of three matches against the 124th Artillery at Oak Brook fields. After the war, the civilian Cuban team, from the Club de Polo y Equacion, returned to challenge the Oak Brook team (Paul Butler, Colonel Leon Mandel, Mike Healy, Jim Hannah) for the Governor Green Challenge Cup, which was played for the first time that year. The Chicago Tribune reports: Sunday’s match renews an old rivalry between Col. Mandel and [Cuban player] Collazo. They opposed each other several years back when the Cuban team invaded Chicago to play the 124th Artillery four of which Mandel was a player. (July 11, 1948) This spirit of friendly international rivalry characterized the next several decades at Oak Brook. CHICAGO ON TOP When Meadowbrook closed in the 1950s, the Chicago polo community stepped up. In an interview with Chicago Magazine, Michael Butler describes how Oak Brook emerged in the 1950s as the premier club in the country: In the fifties, Meadowbrook [New York] was the polo capital. When it was sold, the U.S. Polo Association was desperate for headquarters. My dad offered to build out the Oak Brook grounds. At one point there were 13 polo fields. There was stabling for 400 horses. My first real job was managing the farm. People would come in from all over the world. Left top: The packed stands at Oak Brook’s International Field circa 1960 captures the renaissance of polo in the Midwest. Left bottom: The Rajmata of Jaipur at Oak Brook Polo Club, 1984
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Oak Brook’s rising star brought with it the hosting duties of the U.S. Open, which started a nearly 25-year residency at the club. This tournament brought many international players through the town of Oak Brook and Chicago, including teams from Britain and Mexico. In 1967, the USPA officially moved its headquarters to Oak Brook. Polo grew steadily through the 1950s and had found its footing again by the 1960s. This was a second heyday for Chicago polo, which was a regular stop on the international polo (and social) circuit. Indeed, nobles such as King Hussein of Jordan and the Baron de Rothschild made a point of coming to take in chukkers at Oak Brook. One of the most regular royal visitors was the Maharaja of Jaipur and many of his family members, whom the Butlers counted as close personal friends. Local press is dotted with references to the Maharaja and Maharani of Jaipur attending the annual Polo Ball and taking up residency at The Drake Oak Brook Hotel for extended stays. In fact, the Maharaja was such a frequent visitor that he kept his own string of horses at the Oak Brook stables. In 1964, the Maharaja presented the Oak Brook Polo Club with the Jaipur Cup. Oak Brook has also had a historically long connection to polo in England. Prince Philip’s Windsor team travelled to Oak brook, as did Lord Patrick Beresford’s Cowdray Park team. Major Ronald Ferguson (father of the former Duchess of York,
Sarah Ferguson, and Prince Charles’s unofficial polo manager for several years) traveled to Chicago with several teams, with visits beginning in the 1960s and stretching into the 1980s. In 1977, he brought his team to play in The Century Match, which commemorated the 100-year anniversary of John Gordon Bennett bringing polo from Great Britain to America. This British connection culminated in 1986 when Michael Butler invited Prince Charles to come and play a chukker in Chicago. Instead of coming for just a chukker, Prince Charles made a four-day official visit to the United States, and played his first official polo game in the United States at Oak Brook (he had been involved in unofficial games in California previous to this visit). The 4-goal Prince’s Wales Polo Team beat the Oak Brook team 12–10. The Prince even stayed that evening for the ball. At the height of the 1980s, Oak Brook had an annual International Series of tournaments that attracted teams from all over the world. A typical season in 1987 season saw Oak Brook host 9-goal Roma Polo Club from Italy in June and the 5-goal Chukka Core team from Jamaica in July. September brought two international events: a 10-goal Mexican team and a 17-goal British team. The fall tournament of the International Series always culminated the polo season with the posh Polo Ball. 39
The Anandpur Sahib Polo team from the Delhi Polo Club competed against Oak Brook for the International Cup in 2016
AMBASSADOR TO THE WORLD Indeed, some of these international friendships have continued over decades. Vikram Singh Sodhi, President of the Delhi Polo Club, was first invited to Chicago in the 1980s as a guest of the Butler family at Oak Brook; he returned in the 1990s to captain an Indian polo team in a six-nation international arena polo tournament. In 2015, Vikram and his polo team returned to reignite the tradition of playing in Chicago Polo’s International Series. “International polo creates lasting friendships,” explains Vikram. “Since polo is primarily a family sport, you become members of the extended global polo
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family. I have been fortunate to have played polo in all corners of the world, with the distinction of being one of the most widely traveled polo playing members of my generation in India.” Jim Drury, Oak Brook Club President, is an advocate for reaffirming Chicago’s position in the international polo community by supporting the International Series this summer. In addition to hosting Vikram’s Anandpur Sahib team from the Delhi Polo Club for the Butler Challenge Cup, the Drake Challenge will host a returning team from Jamaica. The third game in the International Series this year re-establishes the long connection
Chicago Polo welcomed the Jamaica Polo Team to compete for the Drake Cup as part of its 2016 International Series.
between Great Britain and Chicago with the return of the Wales Polo Team for the International Cup. “I vividly recall those marvelous international matches of the 80s and watching Prince Charles play at Oak Brook, as I was beginning my polo career,” says Jim Drury. “We are privileged to continue that long tradition at the club this season, once again hosting international teams from India, Jamaica, and Great Britain. As polo is the oldest international team sport, there is a warm bond of friendship that unites players everywhere—regardless of our differences. We feel a deep sense of responsibility to keep that candle of friendship burning.”
TO TA KE IN O NE O F O U R INTERNATIO NA L G A MES THIS S EAS O N, S EE THE S CHED U LE A ND TIC KET INFO RMATIO N O N PAG E 1 8–1 9. 41
A MB ASSA DOR TO WOR L D P O LO
CANADA
WALES IRELAND
ENGLAND
GERMANY
ITALY
CHICAGO
MOROCCO CUBA
MEXICO GUATEMALA
JAMAICA
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
BARBADOS
COSTA RICA NIGERIA
BRAZIL
CHILE
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ARGENTINA
SOUTH AFRICA
SAUDI ARABIA
INDIA MANILA
Chicago has welcomed polo players, dignitaries, and royalty from around the globe to share in the comradery and competition that characterize our community. This is just a sample of the countries we have hosted in our 95 years of polo history.
KENYA
AUSTRALIA
NEW ZEALAND
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INTERNATIONAL CUP INTERNATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 10 | GATES OPEN: 1:00 PM | MATCH START: 3:00 PM OAK BROOK VS. GREAT BRITAIN In the third match of Oak Brook’s International Polo Series and to close the Chicago Polo Season, the Oak Brook Polo Club welcomes back Great Britain and Price Charles’s Wales Polo
Team. The International Cup’s inaugural match was played against the Wales Polo Team, captained by Prince Charles in 1986 in front of crowd of more than 20,000 spectators.
For event and ticket information, please visit oakbrookpoloclub.com
BUTLER CHALLENGE CUP INTERNATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
SUNDAY, AUGUST 20 | GATES OPEN: 1:00 PM | MATCH START: 3:00 PM OAK BROOK VS. INDIA The second match of Oak Brook’s International Polo Series and for the third straight year, the Delhi Polo Club returns to compete for a chance to put its name on the Butler Chal-
lenge Cup. The Friends of Conservation will host a “Polo for Conservation” luncheon to celebrate the organization’s 35th Anniversary.
For event and ticket information, please visit oakbrookpoloclub.com
PI C N IC T O
POSH:
The art of tailgating
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ailgating at Polo is quite a different affair from your more typical stadium parking lot party. It is decidedly more civilized, while capturing the spirit of fun, creativity, and community gathered to cheer on a good match. One of the greatest attributes of any polo club is the community of players, families and friends that are drawn together by their shared passion for the sport. It is a regular tradition for these supporters to pull up to the field, drop their tailgates, and spread blankets out on the grass—usually as close to center field as possible, for the best view. Coolers offering simple picnic meals of cold chicken, salads, fruit, bread and cheese are unpacked, and any passers-by are often invited to share. “At Oak Brook, we like to create a polo experience for everyone,” explains Daniel O’Leary, Managing Director of Oak Brook Polo Club. “If you want the champagne, big hats, and excitement of the divot-stomping crowd, you can sit in lawn or club seating on the east side. If you want something a little more intimate, you can fill your car with friends or family, pull up to the west side of the field, lay out your spread, and watch great polo in a more laid back atmosphere.” Polo’s roots are regal, yet the beauty of tailgating is that you can make it as casual or as posh as you desire. With much of the seating at polo games fieldside, there are opportunities to stage your tailgating experience picnic style, out of a truck or classic car, under an umbrella or tent, or in an even more elaborate curated affair. Don’t have time to plan a tailgate of your own? On-the-go polo fans can partake in some of the area’s best food trucks, as well as onsite catering by local restaurants.
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TO E AT
Chicagoland’s best food vendors will be on hand this summer to customize your catered tailgating menu. Arranmore is offering selections from Dark Horse Grill, Gibson’s Bar & Steakhouse, Chef by Request and Standard Market. Oak Brook catering will be provided by Standard Market, Gibson’s Bar & Steakhouse, The Drake Oak Brook Hotel, Weber Grill Restaurant and Labriola Restaurant. In addition, check out some of the best local food trucks, including Grill Chasers, Toasty Cheese, Jerk Jamaican Grill, Stan’s Donuts, Muffins Ice Cream Shoppe, and Crave Bar.
If you want to bring clients to polo for the day, or have a group who would like to spend an afternoon luxuriating in VIP service, you can explore custom lounge and private tent experiences field-side this season. Your custom tent experience can accommodate any size of group and can be as simple
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as classic seating or as elaborate as developing a creative theme and menu for the day. “We ask: what do you want when you come here?” says Arranmore’s Venue Director, Jenin Paradise. “Do you want something laid back, or something really high end? We can create a cool lounge inside
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your tent with furniture using customized packages. I create a vision board of styles—for example, modern, rustic or an Argentinian theme—based on what you want, then pick furniture to go into your tent to recreate that vision board.” “We work with a canvas of 300+ acres of beautiful green grass, and we want clients to come out and create their own experience. You can’t really go wrong with
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tailgating. It can be as simple as bringing a couple of chairs, or some blankets. We have food trucks and everything that you need. Just pull your car up.” No membership is required to come and enjoy a day of polo at Arranmore Farm & Polo Club or Oak Brook Polo Club. Reserve a ticket or a spot for your vehicle by booking your tickets online. See page 20 for details.
Merrill Lynch is proud to support the Oak Brook Polo community. Merrill Lynch is proud to support the Oak Brook Polo community. Giving back to your community is important to you — and to us. That’s why we’re committed to helping you make a difference. Giving back to your community is important to you — and to us. The Maurer Group That’s why we’re committed to helping you make a difference. Karl Maurer, CIMA® First Vice President The Maurer Group Wealth Management Advisor Karl Maurer, CIMA® Portfolio First Manager Vice President
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TO DR I N K
Sample a Pimm’s Chukker and other refreshing Pimm’s summer libations at the Pimm’s Bar during select polo matches. Pop-up bars will offer up craft beers, feature wines, and curated cocktails throughout the season. Pimm’s Chukker
1 part Pimm’s 1 part gin 3 parts lemon-lime soda Serve on the rocks with a lime wedge
What is polo without champagne? Can one stomp a divot without a glass of bubbly in one hand for balance? Let’s hope we never have to find out. Veuve Clicquot is a proud sponsor of Chicago Polo’s 2017 season.
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HORSES & HORSEPOWER
SUNDAY, JULY 9 | GATES OPEN: 1:00 PM | MATCH START: 3:00 PM FERRARI AND MASERATI Come to Oak Brook Polo Club to experience an afternoon of horses and horsepower. Continental AutoSport Ferrrari and Maserati and the Ferrari Club of America launch the day with
a parade of new and classic Ferraris for you to experience, followed by 6 chukkers of heart-racing polo sponsored by Italian engineering greats Ferrari and Maserati.
For event and ticket information, please visit oakbrookpoloclub.com
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C HI CAGO ’ S
LEADING LADIES
The Sun Ranch team: Sheri Martin, Stephanie Kraml Suttle, Reute Butler, Stacey Galindo, Sue Sally Hale (courtesy of the Kraml Family Collection
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T
raditionally a sport reserved for men and the army, polo is currently one of the only sports in the world in which men and women compete as equals. And while polo is for anyone who is old enough to hold a mallet or suitably young at heart, today women players constitute the fastest growing polo demographic in North America. Chicagoland has been a catalyst for women in the sport, perhaps more than any other one city in the nation. The history of women in polo in the region can be traced back decades, and while not all members of the broader community supported their participation, a few female icons and trailblazers truly opened the barn doors, if you will, for generations of women to follow. One of the first two women in the U.S. to receive a polo handicap rating from the USPA was polo lady-legend Jorie Butler Kent. Jorie grew up on horseback and was mentored from a young age by the legendary Cecil Smith, who guided her training as a horsewoman and instilled in her a thorough understanding of the sport. She came to be polo manager of Oak Brook in 1967, working alongside her father Paul and brother Michael to transition the club into a renowned polo destination, host to the U.S. Open, the 16-goal Butler handicap, and a series of international tournaments. She developed an outstanding string, built stabling for more than 500 visiting ponies, and invited teams and players from neighboring cities and as far away as Mexico, India and England. As the first woman to manage a high-goal polo club the U.S., Jorie’s contribution to the sport is matched by few others to this day. Throughout her polo career, Jorie maintained a very analytical approach to the sport. By keeping detailed worksheets on games and players, she studied team
Jorie Butler Kent (courtesy of the Butler Family Collection)
dynamics and game strategy. Her father Paul, founder of Oak Brook Polo Club, and a widely respected player in his own right, would come to her for guidance: “I gave advice to my father before, after and during his games. I watched so much polo and kept notes on everything. It’s a rare thing that a daughter becomes a tutor to her own father. It was such an honor and I absolutely loved it.” Jorie instilled the same love for polo in her own daughter, Reute, who reached a handicap of 2 goals 59
and became the first woman patron at Oak Brook, among of sea of established male players. Reute’s polo career was hugely successful: she won more than half of the tournaments she played in with (and against) men, and she won every game she played in with women. In the women’s tournaments, Reute was lucky enough to play with Sue Sally and Sunny Hale, female polo icons hailing out of California. ‘Sue Sal,’ as she was affectionately known, gained notoriety for disguising herself as a man in order to compete in tournaments in the 1950s and 60s— before women were granted membership in the USPA. Her daughter Sunny Hale’s legacy expanded on the foundations laid by Jorie and Sue Sal; she became the first woman to win the U.S. Open and achieved the highest women’s handicap on record, 5 goals.
Jorie Butler Kent (courtesy of the Butler Family Collection)
“ Women playing polo is not that uncommon in the United States, but the Naperville Women’s Polo Club is unique in that it is the only location this far that has had enough women to form a club.” —Naperville Sun, 1984 60
LET THE GAMES BEGIN In 1981, more than 30 women in the Chicago area started the Naperville Women’s Polo Club. The club was an anomaly—the USPA, who had granted handicaps to women less than a decade earlier, now officially recognized this club that was organized by women, for women. One of the driving forces behind the Naperville Women’s club was Patti Greene, who organized games in the local arena and on the grass. Patti’s daughter Shannon Greene Robb remembers her mother and fellow players as a gritty and enthusiastic group: “The Naperville Women’s Polo Club was a coming-of-age for many local women who were keen to play. And they weren’t playing ‘Pretty Woman’ style polo. These were competitive horsewomen and a few cowgirls too—they played hard and had a lot of fun at the same time.”
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Michael Butler, Liz Kuhn, Patti Greene, Sandy Barber (Photo courtesy of Shannon Greene Robb)
Most women who played polo in the Naperville Club borrowed horses from their husbands, fathers, friends or other relatives. Stephanie Kraml Suttle started playing with the Naperville women in her late teens, and she credits her father Ken for supporting her interest in the sport: “It was thanks to my dad that I got to play polo. He was so supportive. He didn’t believe in ‘no girls allowed’!” Stephanie also played practice games at the popular Chicago Avenue Armory, where she was the only female player. Mid season, players held a special meeting, hoping to ban her from playing. Her father, Ken, and
a few others fought hard to keep her in the game—and won! By 1989, Chicago was hosting an outdoor Women’s Tournament, drawing: players from as far away as California and Florida. Stephanie reflects fondly on the Maria Caleel Memorial Tournament “Reute Butler pulled together the Sun Ranch team of myself, Sue Sally Hale and Stacey Galindo. Reute was injured at the last minute, so we played with an alternate—Sheri Martin. It was a blast to play with these women—and we won! I am still so honored to have my name on the trophy that honors our friend Maria Caleel.” 63
CHICAGO’S CURRENT LEADING LADIES Samantha Falbe Pamela Flanagan Angela Hunt Frauke Lueders Tracy Regas Renata Sanfilippo Mimi Shirey Whitney Vogt Megan West
Samantha Falbe
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COMMUNITY PASSION In 2000, a local businesswoman, Samantha Falbe, decided to check ‘horseback riding’ off her bucket list—and today she finds herself completely immersed in the sport. Samantha is now an A-rated player and will play in the 6-8-goal league this season. She credits the huge umbrella that is Chicago Polo for her progression in the sport: “The community is very welcoming and there are so many opportunities to play on different fields, with different players and teams. Participation is huge in our community, and I love that a shared passion for horses is what brings us all together.” Samantha also appreciates the increasing number of women who are polo professionals and major sponsors. Ladies like Lia Salvo, Caroline Anier, Gillian Johnston and Annabelle Gundlach are an inspiration for women in the sport: “These women play aggressive, physical polo and they are very competitive. Knowing they are out there working hard and seeing them in action shows players like me that anything is within reach in polo—as long as you set goals and work hard.” Samantha joins a long list of women who have supported Chicago Polo through its ebbs and flows, both on and off the field. Polo is enjoying its renaissance, and their momentum is driving the sport into a new era. As players, patrons and pros, American women are carving out their unique space as the queens of the sport of kings.
Reute Butler (courtesy of the Butler Family Collection)
An August 20, 1972 article from the Chicago Tribune illustrates the uphill battle that women faced establishing themselves as worthy opponents on the field. Local polo players weighed in on the advent of Sue Sally Hale being awarded a 1-goal rating by the USPA and playing with men at the Sleepy Hollow Polo Club in California: Tom Hughes: “If women were the Roller Derby type, they might be able to take it.” Jim Kraml Jr: “Women just can’t hack it. It’s like in football. They say ‘I want to play quarterback but you don’t hit me.’ Polo can be a rough game. You fall on your ass and you’ve gone a long way down.” Dick Bunn: “I’m against them playing. I’ve been brought up not to be rough with women. … And I think there ought to be something left for the men to play. They get us every other way. Everything else they want to get into. Dammit, they ought to leave a few things for us.” 65
THIS SUMMER STAY & PLAY IN OAK BROOK No one offers more great ways to enjoy the summer than The Hotels of Oak Brook. Along with great weekend rates, we put you at the heart of all kinds of summer fun. Catch the exciting action at the Oak Brook Polo Club, or enjoy world class shopping at Oakbrook Center, golf, swim or just relax over an evening of fine dining. Your perfect summer escape is waiting at The Hotels of Oak Brook.
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CHICAGO POLO YOUTH DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE: POLO, YOUR NEXT GREAT SPORT
I
n partnership with the United States Polo Association (USPA), the Chicago Polo community is searching for the next generation of polo players! We are excited to offer interested students from grades 5–12, ages 10–18, the opportunity to learn and play competitive polo with their peers. This unique opportunity will give students exposure to horses and the necessary education and skills to learn the sport of polo in a safe and fun environment. Beginning summer 2017, students are invited to attend a series of workshops designed to introduce interested players and parents to the sport through classroom instruction, demonstrations, and basic horsemanship and polo training taught by local professionals and instructors. Upon completion and level of interest, students will have the opportunity to participate in a number of USPA and Chicago Polo youth development programs and compete on a circuit and the national level against other players from surrounding states.
YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS: • National Youth Tournament Series • Middle School Polo Leagues • Interscholastic Polo Leagues For more information about Chicago Polo’s Youth Development Programs, please contact Bob McMurtry, USPA Central Circuit Governor, at bobmcm21@gmail.com or sign-up onsite at Oak Brook and Arranmore Polo Club events to learn about future workshops and informational events. Workshops begin this summer at Windridge Farms located at 440 Royce Road, Bolingbrook, IL 60440. 67
WOMEN’S POLO INVITATIONAL
SUNDAY, AUGUST 13 | GATES OPEN: 1:00 PM | MATCH START: 3:00 PM
Chicago has a long tradition of producing great women polo players, and our annual Women’s Invitational is our chance to host the nation’s best. This year we are going to mix things up
with high-spirited fun: Women vs. Men. Come to Arranmore to cheer on your favorite players.
For event and ticket information, please visit: arranmorefarmandpoloclub.com
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POLO INSPIRED
TRUNK CLUB STYLE Trunk Club’s expert stylists make sense of men’s and women’s polo looks for the 2017 season. Visit us at our Hinsdale, Highland Park or Chicago Clubhouses or at trunkclub.com.
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BARBOUR JACKETS Barbour’s famous waxed jackets—the Bedale, Beaufort, and Beadnell—are made for the practicalities of country living. Timeless, traditional and tough, with iconic looks that have made them popular with royalty and rock stars. barbour.com
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Women’s bracelets in yellow, rose and white gold with diamonds. David Yurman Oakbrook, 130 Oak Brook Center. davidyurman.com
PICNIC IN PERFECT STYLE Chic Chicago-made picnic blankets with a water-resistant bottom and roll-up design with handles. Polo fans enjoy 10% off by entering Polo2017 during checkout at Sparrow Park goods. sparrowparkgoods.com
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LA MARTINA LM PRO La Martina LM Pro polo boots and kneepads with top-quality leather and high-tech silicon are specifically designed to dissipate a blow, improve shock absorption and deflect impacts. lamartina.com.
VEUVE CLICQUOT YELLOW LABEL BRUT Veuve Clicquot Brut’s signature crisp, full flavors are the perfect pairing for a half-time divot stomp or to add sparkle to your tailgating spread.
LA CROIX
CUSTOM POLO TACK Barrington Saddlery is pleased to announce its custom polo tack made from the finest English leather by our highly skilled Master Saddler, Michael Dainton.
Triple purified, naturally carbonated and free of sodium, sugar or artificial sweeteners, quench your field-side thirst with LaCroix’s natural fruit extract-spiked sparkling waters. lacroixwater.com
Š2017 Porsche Cars North America, Inc. Porsche recommends seat belt usage and observance of all traffic laws at all times.
Goosebumps, all rise. Few things can command an involuntary response. One of them, the new 911 Turbo S. 580 horsepower. 0-60 in 2.9 seconds. A top track speed of 205 mph. If the hair on your skin isn’t already standing at attention, it will be soon. Porsche. There is no substitute.
The new 911 Turbo S Cabriolet
Napleton Westmont Porsche 201 E. Ogden Avenue Westmont, IL 60559 (630) 791-0708 PorscheOfWestmont.com
NOW THAT’S WHAT i CALL ALL RIGHT
WWW.VISITJAMAICA.COM
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is a proud sponsor of the Oak Brook Polo Club
Photo: Mike Mantucca | Pioneer-Press
VISIT OUR BOOTH TODAY FOR A SPECIAL PROMOTION! VISIT US ONLINE
chicagotribune.com/suburbs/oak-brook
THANK YOU TO OUR 2017 SEASON AND EVENT SPONSORS WHO HELPED MAKE THIS SEASON A SUCCESS!
Red: PMS 185C
Green: PMS 348C
C = 2.35
R = 252
C = 95.69
R= 1
M = 91.37
G = 25
M = 20.78
G = 106
Y = 76.47
B = 33
Y = 85.88
B = 58
K= 0
K = 7.06
Blue: 2945 CVC
Gray: Warm Gray 8C
C = 94.12
R= 8
C = 35.69
R = 144
M = 51.76
G = 76
M = 31.37
G = 132
Y = 11.76
B = 141
Y = 36.47
B = 116
K = 3.14
K = 12.16 “Bar/Steakhouse” font: Helvetica Condensed Regular
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THANK YOU TO OUR 2017 SEASON AND EVENT SPONSORS WHO HELPED MAKE THIS SEASON A SUCCESS!
Fair
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L I N C O L N
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CUSTOM HOMES
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FIRE-GRILLED FESTIVITIES CATERING | DELIVERY | ON-SITE GRILLING Whether you are planning a small office lunch or big backyard bash—no matter your party style—Weber is the perfect choice for your next event. We offer delicious party platters delivered to your door, or let our Grill Masters provide that extra sizzle with fullservice catering and on-site grilling! Chicago, Lombard, Schaumburg
WeberGrillRestaurant.com
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Proudly Supporting Oak Brook Polo Congratulations on another successful season
We’ll handle it from here.™ For all your waste and recycling needs Commercial - Industrial - Residential - Construction 96
Republic Services 5050 W. Lake Street Melrose Park, Illinois 60160 (708) 345-7050 www.RepublicServices.com
AUTHENTIC
CHICAGO THIN CRUST HomeRunInnPizza.com
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GET IN THE GAME! START TAKING POLO LESSONS TODAY Chicagoland’s polo instructors offer group and private lessons for all players, from the beginner just learning to ride to up-andcoming players looking for coaching to take them to the next level. Our instructors provide everything you need to get started and build your polo game: • Horses • Tack • Polo equipment • Two arenas and a full polo field
FOR INFORMATION ABOUT BOOKING A POLO LESSON, CALL: GO POLO Matias Obregon: 561.371.4903 Juan Martin Gutierrez: 760.848.5352
CHICAGO POLO ACADEMY Tod Rackley: 630.724.7674 Juli Rackley-Shirey: 561.248.7315
BARRINGTON HILLS POLO CLUB Megan West: 847.702.0475
COMMANDER’S CUP
SUNDAY, JUNE 25 | GATES OPEN: 1:00 PM | MATCH START: 3:00 PM OAK BROOK POLO CLUB VS. BLACK HORSE TROOP Oak Brook Polo Club honors the United States Armed Forces service men and women, and its veterans in a remake of the historic Oak Brook Polo vs. Black Horse Troop match from the
early 1900s. The event also commemorates polo’s contribution to the nation’s military forces, which was used to enhance officer horsemanship skills.
For event and ticket information, please visit oakbrookpoloclub.com