Empire Polo Lifestyle Magazine 2012 by Lynn Bremner

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Contents Features

Letter from Empire Polo

Season Schedule

Season in Review 2011

Staff Directory

Member Directory

Traditions of Sunday Polo

Polo-Inspired Timepieces

Women’s Polo

A Spectator’s Guide To Polo

The History of California Polo

Polo Equipment Glossary

Pairing Wine With Polo

Polo & Hollywood

Royals who Play Polo

What is Arena Polo?

Chris Kerley / Spurs & Bits

The Gardens at Empire

Events at Empire

Beach Polo

Snow Polo

Published by Empire Polo Club 81-800 Ave. 50 Indio, CA 92201 Tel. 760-393-7298 www.EmpirePolo.com www.facebook.com/empirepolo Publisher: Alexander Haagen IV Editor: Lynn Bremner Design/Layout: Imagine It! Media Advertising Sales: Tony Schieffer Contributors: Alex Webbe, Lynn Bremner, Diane Hensley, Debra Gruszecki & Polo101.com. Cover: Polo player Ashton Wolf. Photo credit Jim Bremner.

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Traditions of

SUNDAY POLO

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From the earliest polo exhibitions, spectators were drawn to this exciting horse and mallet battle on vast expanses of green lawns atop spirited mounts. Usually scheduled on Sunday afternoons to allow for ladies and gentlemen attending morning church services, the continual neck and neck races up and down the field drew resounding approval from all. With horse and buggies lined up along the field and spectators spending more and more time socializing fieldside, refreshments became part of the experience and the tailgate developed. “You must remember that in the early days most of these matches took place at private clubs where those in attendance would retire after the games and sit down to dinner,” said George Dupont, the Director of the Museum of Polo and Hall of Fame. “There was a dress code in the Victorian days that carried on for decades as the game took a foothold in America,” he added. Probably one of the most widely-viewed references to polo traditions was the scene from the movie Pretty Woman, and the reference to divot stomping. Proposed to be a polo club tradition by the movie character, the practice of divot stomping was actually the product of the times. In earlier times, the divots kicked up by the horses were replaced by groundskeepers who would walk the field in unison and repair any damage to the playing surface. As time passed and the cost of labor became more intensive, spectators were called upon to “divot stomp”, which was nothing more than an effort to cut maintenance costs and maintain the pace of the game. The International Polo Club in Wellington, Florida added an incentive to the spectators by offering free glasses of champagne that would be

poured from the beds of brand new pickup trucks in the middle of the field. Ice cream bars were offered to the younger set and the club was the beneficiary of field maintenance while the spectators got the opportunity to stretch their legs, socialize and enjoy a glass or two of bubbly at the halftime intermission. Tailgate efforts continued to gain sophistication over the years with competitions and prizes being awarded. Paté, champagne, selections of cheeses, fresh fruit, chicken, and ribs were de rigueur at some of the larger polo clubs with the guests dressed in their Sunday best. “Most beautiful hat” contests and themed tailgate decorations attracted another element of spectator and added entertainment found its way into the clubs in an effort to keep the audience amused between chukkers, but the game remained the same. “Dress continues to be a big part of attending a polo game,” said Dupont. “The more formal the presentation, the more formal the dress,” he said. “On the other hand, casual tailgaters could be found in T-shirts and shorts grilling hot dogs and hamburgers.” Following a trophy presentation ceremony that can be short and sweet to an announcer-driven ceremony that offers valued prizes to the winners and bottles of champagne for all, the crowd continues to party on while making dinner plans that would either keep them at the club or send them off to neighboring restaurants. “There’s pageantry to the game,” said Dupont, “that transcends generations. This is the closest thing we have today that compares to the days of jousting knights,” he added. “The tradition and drama that surround the games are as important as the matches themselves.” Source: www.Polo101.com

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By Alex Webbe A conservative list of polo-inspired timepieces might find itself limited to the Jaeger LeCoultre Reverso and Piaget’s Polo watches as the entire luxury watch industry seems to be enamored with the world of polo. Claiming some of the game’s top players as Ambassadors for their brand with Jaeger LeCoultre scooped up Argentina’s Adolfo Cambiaso in one of the early rounds of recruitment. Promoting their luxury products through polo seemed practical based on the company’s history with the game. The year 1931 saw the birth of the Reverso watch collection which was originally created for polo players. It was felt that due to the extreme nature of the game, a player wearing a watch could easily be struck in the wrist with a mallet that would break the glass of a regular wristwatch. Therefore, Jaeger LeCoultre created the Reverso watch which would allow the face of the watch to flip around to an all metal backing thereby protecting the timepiece. Today the Reverso watches have evolved into having various features and complications on both sides of the watch. The Reverso watches remain one of the most recognizable watches in the world and a staple in every watch enthusiast’s collection. 26 | EMPIRE POLO LIFESTYLE

Piaget’s entrance onto the polo field didn’t occur until sometime later, but they arrived with a bang. Initial involvement came in the form of a high-goal polo team at the storied Palm Beach Polo and Country Club in concert with their introduction of the Piaget Polo. The Piaget Polo is not just a luxury timepiece born in 1979. It is an icon; the distillation of the creative genius of the Manufacture Piaget. It possesses a revolutionary design that features a fully integrated strap, case and bezel. The Piaget Polo collection embodies the art of living in perfect harmony with the times, whatever the circumstances. The Piaget Polo line includes the Piaget Polo FortyFive watches, Piaget Polo chronograph watches, Piaget Polo Tourbillon Relatif watches and Leather strap Piaget Polo watches. Piaget embraced another Argentine 10-goal star in Marcos Heguy as a product Ambassador, and then supplemented that marketing move by tapping American 8-goaler Nic Roldan as well. Piaget teams have appeared in high-goal competition in the United States, England and Argentina, and continue to forge a close tie with the polo community around the world.

Cartier’s affiliation with polo began decades ago with major sponsorship of the St. Moritz Snow Polo tournament in Switzerland and England’s Coronation Cup. For a number of years a Cartier polo team competed at Palm Beach Polo and Country Club where they also sponsored the Cartier International Open Championship. Taking note of the impact that branding a product’s affiliation with polo has had, the flood gates were opened and Hublot signed one of polo’s top young stars in Facundo Pieres to serve as its Argentine Ambassador. Brother Gonzalo Pieres, Jr. was enlisted by Rolex as the face of their “Live for Greatness” campaign, and Johnny-comelately Richard Mille, one of the most recent entrants into the world of luxury timepieces, tagged another Argentine 10-goaler, Pablo Macdonough to lead its 22-goal British Open team. Appearances in Spanish high-goal competition at Sotogrande expanded its exposure, and the addition of Brunei’s Prince Jeffri was an added bonus for the Swiss premium watchmaker. Ralph Lauren’s POLO launched the new Rolex collection for 2011 in February of 2011 at the Medici restaurant in Victoria Island, Lagos, regenerating their presence with the mallet and chukker set after a two decade hiatus. Once the

sponsor of the United States Polo Association’s Gold Cup and a highly successful Rolex/Abercrombie & Kent highgoal team that competed on the fields of the Chicago area Oak Brook Polo Club and Palm Beach Polo & Country Club, this was the first major effort by Rolex to re-insert itself in the “sport of kings”. Lesser brands would also try to take advantage of the branding influence of the game of polo, including the lower-end, infamous Beverly Hills Polo Club, a licensing company that was getting a lot of mileage out of a logo that was screen printed on T-shirts and sweatshirts by a couple of college students in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s for extra spending money. Polo player Scott Devon has recently dealt himself into the timepiece market, but his approach is far different than his predecessors. Devon shook up the high-end watch world when people got word of the Tread 1. Divorced from all the “tradition” in Switzerland, this California made watch relies instead on suppliers to outfit the aerospace industry. The basic theme of this electro-mechanical timepiece is that time is told on belts (the treads) and read through windows placed over segments of those belts. Whether Devon will join the ranks of the aforementioned companies and acquire the services of a world-class polo player to hawk his product or not, only time will tell.

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Sunny Hale, Jessica Bailey and Kim Garsed

WomenRein

Historians of polo faithfully identifying the game as the “Sport of Kings”, have often neglected the inclusion of queens, princesses, and ladies of the court as active participants in the game. References to women in polo can be found in early Persian and mogul poetry with representations of women polo players revealed in some of the earliest surviving examples of Chinese and Persian works of art. For over two thousand years, polo was the favorite pastime of the rulers of Asia who played the game, and women participated all along the way. When polo came to the United States from England in the late 1870’s, however strict, Victorian rules of etiquette sidelined the women and the sport became an exclusive men’s club.

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It wasn’t until the early 1900’s that the women saddled up again with mallets in hand. In March of 1901, a New York Times report with an Aiken, South Carolina dateline describes a game of polo played between two women’s teams; the San Francisco Call published a story entitled “Women Play Polo at Burlingame”; and in an August 1910 article the New York Times reports in the news that “Society Women Play Polo”. The thought of women participating in this “noblest” of sports is nothing new. References to the queen and her ladies engaging King Khosrow II Parviz and his courtiers in the 6th century AD, and mention of Chinese princesses swinging mallets in heated competition was common knowledge. The issue that arose in the sport over two thousand years later revolved round women being allowed to join the national polo associations of their respective countries. Philadelphia’s Pansy Ireland managed to get registered as a playing member of the Association in the 1930’s, using only her initial for a first name failing to reveal her sex when applying for membership. Pansy managed to play for a number of years before the ruse was discovered and she was removed from the membership rolls. In 1932, the U.S. Women’s Polo Association (USPWA) was founded, complete with a constitution, by-laws and handicaps. In the next 10 years, most clubs (25) and members (300) were from the southwest and California, with Mrs. Leone Hart being considered the founding “mother” of women’s polo (something that might come as a surprise to Mrs. Louise Hitchcock and the ladies in Aiken, SC). A women’s polo tournament schedule was established and included the Pacific Coast Handicap, Scholastic Championship, Lady Chaytor Tournament, Junior Championship, Open Championship, Circuit Championship, and Governor’s Trophy Tournament. After a decade of building a successful membership and tournament series, the USPWA was disbanded during the war and never got itself organized again. Louise Hitchcock, wife of 10-goaler Tommy Hitchcock and mother of 10-goaler Tommy Hitchcock, Jr., has been called the “First Lady of American Polo”, and Leone Hart might have captured the title of “mother” of women’s polo, but for anyone born in the last fifty or sixty years, Sue Sally Hale is the first name that comes to mind when women’s polo is discussed. At the age of nine, in a Hollywood restaurant with her show business parents, she wrote on a napkin, “I want to be a polo player or a bronc buster.” Single-handedly, with sheer determination, she worked her way up through the sport. She became an avid activist for women in polo, staunchly campaigning to have women rated on the same basis as men. For well over 55 years, her career was spent mentoring and reinforcing the role of women as professional players, instructors, managers and organizers of the sport.

Sunny Hale

Sue Sally Hale was purported to have to disguise herself to compete in tournaments in California in the 1950’s and 1960’s before becoming the first woman member of the United States Polo Association in 1972. Although she was finally allowed to play under her own name and as an officially registered member of the USPA, there was still a gender barrier. EMPIRE POLO LIFESTYLE | 31

Sunny Hale, Vicky Owens, Tania Paneno of Empire Polo Team and Abby Riggs, Caroline Anier, Jessica Bailey, Kim Garsed and Kirsten Ludwig of Urban Dog Polo Team.

A 1977 newspaper clipping from Chicago Tribune Magazine shows how shocked the polo world was: “There may be one thing worse than death out in Calif. Someone named Sue Sally Hale has been given a 1-goal rating and is playing with the men’s team out of Sleepy Hollow Polo Club in Carmel.” Playing with her on her Moorpark team were daughters Sunny and Stormie Hale with Stormie attaining an enviable 2-goal handicap and Sunny claiming a 5-goal arena handicap, becoming the highest woman player in the game. And taking up where her mother left off, Sunny got on the promotional bandwagon. After becoming the first woman player to play on a winning US Open Championship team, with teammates Adolfo Cambiaso, Lolo Castagnola and Tim Gannon, Sunny let everyone in the polo world know that she was just getting started. Sunny founded the Women’s Championship Tournament (WCT) in 2005 as an “international world class women’s polo event that showcases the highest level of women’s polo competition played in the United States as well as to showcase the skill level and accomplishments that women in the sport have achieved worldwide.” The WCT has been credited with setting the standard as the premier women’s polo event in the United States with qualifying tournaments being hosted from coast to coast. Expanding on that growth pattern and in an effort to promote the growth of arena and women’s intercollegiate competition around the world, the WCT has unveiled its WCT Arena series with a WCT Qualifier scheduled to be played at the Empire Polo Club November 26-27, 2011 with the finals slated to be played at Empire, March 30-31, 2012. 32 | EMPIRE POLO LIFESTYLE

The Empire Polo Club solidified its support of women’s polo years ago when a 1990 Polo magazine article on women’s polo publicized the club’s planned celebration of the anniversary of the founding of the Association: “On its 100th anniversary, the U. S. Polo Association has officially sanctioned a U. S. Women’s Open to be held December 4-9 at Empire Polo Club in Indio, California. It is the first such competition in the history of women’s polo in the United States, and the fact that Southern California will serve as host is no accident. “If the region isn’t already the capital of women’s polo, it soon will be,” says Alex Haagen III, president of Empire Polo Club.” The Empire Polo Club will also be hosting the WCT Debii $$ Outdoor Finals, March 2-4, with all three of these women’s tournaments marking the resounding influence of the Hale family on the promotion of women in polo and firmly establishing their enduring polo legacy.

How many polo players are on a team? There are four players per team in outdoor polo (also referred to as grass polo). There are three players per team in indoor polo (includes arena, snow and beach polo). Can you use the same horse for an entire game? No. Polo ponies run the equivalent of one to two miles during a seven-and-a-half-minute chukker, so they must be rested frequently. At the high-goal level, players ideally will have a fresh horse every period although many will “double” on their best ponies. Most players agree that the polo “pony” represents70%-80% of a player’s game. Why are the polo horses manes clipped and tails tied? Free flowing manes and tails are a danger in polo because they can become entangled with players’ mallets or with the reins as the rider tries to control his horse. Manes, therefore, are shaved and the ponies’ tails are wrapped or braided to prevent the hazard. What breed of horse is most often used in Polo? Thoroughbred horses are the most common breed used in polo. The characteristics of the thoroughbred, which make it so ideal for the game, are that it has more stamina, goes farther, faster, and has a better disposition for polo. Why are they called “Polo Ponies”? Originally, no horse higher than thirteen hands and two inches (fifty-four inches) was allowed to play in the game of polo. Today there is no limitation. The horses used in polo range in size from 14 to 16 + hands. A majority of the polo horses are between 5 and 15 years of age. How big is a polo field? A regulation-sized polo field is 300 yards long by 160 yards wide. You can fit 7.5 football fields into the square footage of a polo field. How big is a polo arena? A regulation-sized polo arena is 110 yards long by 50 yards wide. The walls of a polo arena are at least 4 feet high. What are the red boards that run the length of the field? By definition, polo fields can be “boarded” or “unboarded,” the former preferred where spectators are in close proximity to the field to keep the ball in play and those chasing it from ending up in someone’s lap. Standing no more than 11 inches high and made of wood, sideboards are generally painted red or green.

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What material is a polo ball made from? Outdoor polo balls are white in color and made of high-impact plastic. They are about 3.25” in diameter and weigh 4 ounces. In the past they were made with wood or willow root. Indoor polo balls are inflated leather balls that are approximately 4.5” in diameter. What are polo mallets made of ? The shaft of a polo mallet is made of Manu cane and the head is constructed of a wood called Tipa (also known as Rosewood). The handle of the mallet has a rubber grip and a webbed sling. The canes come in different lengths and levels of flexibility. The mallet heads are made in different weights to suit the player’s preference. Why are there no left-handed players? Lefties were officially banned from polo in the mid1930s for safety reasons, but the restriction was relaxed after World War II when polo players of any persuasion were a scarce lot. The USPA reinstated the lefty ban again in 1974 and it’s stuck...there are no more lefthanded polo players. To understand why, consider this: you’re driving merrily down the road when all of a sudden, coming straight at you, is a crazed Englishman driving on the left side of the road. The panic you’d feel in that situation is just what a right-handed polo player feels when he and a lefty approach the ball from opposite directions. What is a polo handicap? Similar to golf, each player is rated using a handicap system. Twice a year polo players are handicapped from minus 2 to 10 goals by the United States Polo Association. The best players in the world are rated 10 goals. A team handicap is the total sum of its players. For example, an 8-goal team may have one 4-goal player, two 2-goal players and a 0-goal player. The word “goal” is used interchangeably with the word “handicap.” When someone says “he is a 4-goal player” that means his handicap is 4-goals. The handicap of a player depicts his or her skill level and is not associated with how many goals they score in a game. “Since the inception of the system in 1890, less than 50 players have ever been awarded a perfect handicap of 10-goals. At the present time, there are 11 active 10-goalers registered with the United States Polo Association.” – Source: www.us-polo.org. What do the positions of each player 1-4 mean? A polo team is made up of four players. The players wear jerseys numbered 1-4. Those are not only the numbers assigned to the players but reflect their corresponding positions as well.

The Number 1 is a forward and attacking offensive player similar to a wing in hockey or a forward in soccer, and, played correctly, one of the most disciplined positions in the game, because not only must the Number 1 keep the team attack stretched out, he must remain out in front of the alignment even when the ball does not come forward (because inevitably, the moment a player turns around and goes back for the ball, it will be driven forward, catching him out of position). Not only is the Number 1 responsible for scoring goals, he is also expected to “ride-off ” the opposing defensive player, allowing a trailing teammate the opportunity to score, similar to a blocking back in football. He takes a beating blocking opposing players out of the way, but gets no credit for the goal he allows his teammate to score except by his own teammates. The Number 1 should be an accurate hitter and concentrate on scoring opportunities. At the same time, he must also bear defensive responsibilities for the opposing player (the opposing Number 4). The Number 2 is also primarily an offensive player who is expected to be able to turn quickly and follow the lead of the Number 1 in order to be in position to pick up a drop pass or take advantage of a missed or blocked shot. He should be one of the top mounted players on the team as he will be expected to cover a great deal of ground in the course of the match. He is one of the top two players on the team. His defensive responsibility is the opposing Number 3. The Number 3 is usually the strongest player on the team and the field “captain”. The Number 3 attacks the opposing offense and turns the ball upfield, usually with a pass ahead to his Number 1 or Number 2. The Number 3 must be able to hit long distances with accuracy and also have great handeye coordination allowing for the deft control of the ball. The Number 3 will also aid in defense, taking the opposing Number 2 or offering defensive support to his Number 4. The Number 4 or “Back”, as he is often referred to, is the most defensive-minded player on the team. His responsibility is to defend his team’s goal and he should be able to deflect opposing shots, or completely reverse the direction of the ball with a powerful backshot. When opportunities arise, the Number 4 might also carry the ball forward, passing the Number 3 and/or Number 2 for a shot at the goal himself, but his main responsibility remains defensive in nature, and his opposing player is the Number 1. These roles are flexible, however, and in the course of a game players will interchange positions until they have the opportunity to return to their place on the field.

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POLO GLOSSARY 12 POLO PONY

BRAIDED TAIL

KNEE PADS

HELMET

CLIPPED MANE

8 POLO BOOTS

SADDLE & BRIDLE

POLO MARTINGALE

BREAST PLATE

4 7

MALLET

BANDAGES

BELL BOOTS

{DEFINITION OF TERMS { 1. Primarily thoroughbred although some quarter

horse breeding can be found. Note that the speed of the hoses is not necessarily the most important factor. The ability of the horse to stop and turn is very important. Many polo ponies come from the race track.

2. Prevents interference with the mallet. 3. Covers the knees above the boot. 4. Protect the player’s leg from bumps and contact by the ball.

5. Most mallets are made from bamboo and the head

is made from hardwood. Mallets vary in length from 49” to 54” depending on the height of the horse and the player’s preference.

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6. Protect the upper part of the hoof from over reaching hind feet as well as other horse’s hoofs.

7. Used for support and protection. 8. Used to keep the saddle from sliding back. 9. Intended to prevent the horse’s head from going up & striking the player’s face.

10. English tack. 11. Prevents interference with the player’s rein hand. 12. The only piece of equipment that is mandatory by the rules. Some players will use a facemask as well.

Pairing

Wine with Polo A Polo Tradition

By Lynn Bremner

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Watching polo players and ponies thunder down emerald fields is an exhilarating experience. Tailgaters and fans line the boards to take in fast-paced action as they enjoy a feast for the eyes, as well as for the palate. Mallet blankets and picnic baskets dot the sidelines and are filled to the brim with tasty appetizers, snacks and bottles of wine. Silver goblets sparkle in the sunshine as spectators enjoy an afternoon of Sunday Polo and fine wine. Fondly nicknamed “The Sport of Kings,” polo draws a sophisticated group of players and spectators from around the globe. It’s no wonder that wine is a popular refreshment at polo games, and it wouldn’t be a proper polo match without a traditional champagne divot stomp at halftime. With Temecula Valley’s wine country about an hour’s drive from Palm Springs, local wines produced by family-owned wineries are a favorite amongst the polo community at Empire Polo Club. Our halftime divot stomp features complimentary champagne and sparkling wine from Temecula-based Wilson Creek Winery. Divot stompers can sample Almond Champagne or try one of the winery’s sparkling wines, Peach Bellini or Orange Mimosa, as they tread in the divots. Another historic tradition associated with the sport of polo is tailgating. Since many polo clubs are located in rural areas at private clubs, players often pack a picnic lunch or supper and head to the polo club for the day. Even at the public clubs, polo players spend the day at

the club and often don’t want to take the time to leave the polo grounds for meals. This has made tailgating a big part of the polo experience. Wine goes hand-in-hand with a polo tailgate party and we have a few suggestions as to what to pack in your basket. Temecula Valley wines pair well with a variety of polo picnic menus. Try coupling a 2009 White Feather Chardonnay produced by Longshadow Ranch Winery, or Wilson Creek’s Grand Cuvee Champagne, with slices of mild cheddar cheese, tangy olives and smoked salmon. If you enjoy reds, the Monte De Oro 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon is a perfect match to sharp cheddar or bleu cheese on slices of crispy French bread or crackers. If you’re grilling on the sidelines, a 2008 Falkner Cabernet or 2007 Driveway Red, a Bordeaux-style blend produced by Hart Winery, will bring out the flavor in steaks or gourmet hamburgers. Grilled chicken pairs well with Weins 2009 Zinfandel, a red wine that showcases tropical fruit and pomegranate, and supplies just a hint of ginger with a nice, sweet finish. You might also try a Baily 2009 Riesling, with aromas of apples and spice with your grilled chicken. It’s described by Baily Vineyard & Winery as “a wonderful picnic wine.” With more than 30 wineries and 30 growers in the Temecula Valley, there are many options for your polo picnic wine pairings. A quick day trip to Temecula is a great way to get familiar with the local wines, or if you are able to join us at Empire Polo Club on January 29th, the Temecula Valley wineries are coming to the desert for the annual Empire Polo & Wine Festival. Tasters will have the opportunity to sample handcrafted wines from more than a dozen Temecula wineries. For more information about the Empire Polo & Wine Festival, view the ad in this magazine or visit www.EmpirePolo.com

Temecula wineries have received top honors at more than a dozen major wine competitions— including more than 100 Gold, Double Gold and Best In Class awards in 2010 alone. As a result, the Temecula Valley has become widely known as Southern California’s premiere winemaking region. Baily Vineyard & Winery Briar Rose Winery Callaway Vineyard & Winery Churon Winery Cougar Vineyards & Winery Danza del Sol Winery Doffo Vineyard & Winery Falkner Winery Foote Print Winery Frangipani Winery Hart Winery Keyways Vineyard & Winery Leonesse Cellars Longshadow Ranch Winery Lorimar Winery Maurice Car’rie Vineyard & Winery Miramonte Winery Monte de Oro Winery Mount Palomar Winery Oak Mountain Winery Palumbo Family Vineyards & Winery Ponte Family Estate Winery Robert Renzoni Vineyards South Coast Winery Resort & Spa Stuart Cellars Thornton Winery Van Roekel Winery Villa di Calabro Winery & Olive Oil Co. Vindemia Vineyards Wiens Family Cellars Wilson Creek Winery For more information about Temecula Valley wineries visit www.TemeculaWines.org

Temecula Valley Wine Country - Location Exit I-15 at Rancho California Road in south Riverside County Less than 65 miles from San Diego, Orange County and Palm Springs; 90 miles southeast of Los Angeles

EMPIRE POLO LIFESTYLE | 43

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Hollywood’s romance with polo dates back long before Julia Roberts’ appearance at a polo match in Pretty Woman (1990), but it’s been a while since the royalty of the silver screen have made an impact on the game. By Alex Webbe

48 | EMPIRE POLO LIFESTYLE

Imagine the likes of Steven Spielberg, Stanley Kubrick, George Lucas and Jerry Bruckheimer galloping around on the polo field. Would you think that George Clooney or Tom Hanks would pick up a mallet and keep a hundred polo ponies in their stables for weekend matches? Well that was the mood in Hollywood’s early days. Instead of Tom Hanks and George Clooney, they had Spencer Tracy and Clark Gable, Robert Montgomery and a group of cowboy stars whose horsemanship would prove a valuable asset on the polo fields of California. Before Spielberg and Kubrick there were Hal Roach and Darryl F. Zanuck, and if the film celebrities of the day weren’t playing they were found in the crowds that flocked to weekend matches at the Riviera Country Club grounds. William Devane, Doug Sheehan, Alex Cord and Pamela Sue Martin carried the Piaget “Chukkers for Charity” banner in a series of matches. Other celebrities that took part in exhibition matches include Stephanie Powers, Robert Logan, Jamison Parker, Sylvester Stallone and Tommy Lee Jones. During the heyday of arena polo at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center in the mid-1980s you’d be hard pressed to show up at the Burbank facility without finding a handful of television and motion picture stars practicing or playing in the spacious arena. “The LA Equestrian Center was a breeding ground for bringing actors into the game,” said Alex Cord from his Texas ranch. “It allowed easy access to the game, instruction and horses.” But the golden age of Hollywood’s involvement with the “sport of kings” hails back to the early days of the motion picture industry. The early recruits came from the ranks of the cowboys and stunt men who took part in so many of Hollywood’s westerns in a world far removed from today’s Tinseltown.

EMPIRE POLO LIFESTYLE | 49

1) Carole Lombard Presents Trophies to the screen actors polo team, winners over a producers’ team by 9 to 3, at the Uplifters Fields, Santa Monica. (1934) L-R: Leslie Howard, Will Rogers, Spencer Tracy and Johnny Mack Brown. 2) Spencer Tracy with Walt Disney at Polo Game Spencer Tracy, a player, talks to Walt Disney between chukkers of the Fifth Annual Motion Stars Polo Game, held recently at Will Rogers Memorial Field, for the benefit of the Motion Picture Relief Fund of America. (1938) 3) Hal Roach Spring 1935 at Santa Barbara Polo Club. 4) Filmdom’s Polo Stars Swing into Action Some of the movie stars who are also adept at the game of polo, pictured on the Riviera Polo Grounds. L-R: Charles Farrell, “Big Boy Williams”, Johnny Mack Brown and George O’ Brien. 5) Santa Barbara Polo Club After a polo match at Santa Barbara Polo Club. (1939) L-R: Mary Astor, H.S. Russell, Alfred House, Rube Williams, and Gerald Dempsey.

50 | EMPIRE POLO LIFESTYLE

Right: One of Polo’s most famous celebrities, Will Rogers

It would be a discredit if we didn’t credit Will Rogers as polo’s biggest Hollywood recruiter. The American cowboy, comedian, humorist, social commentator, vaudeville performer and actor, was one of the best-known celebrities in the 1920s and 1930s, and brought such luminaries of the film industry into the game as Walt Disney, Gary Cooper, Hal Roach and Darryl F. Zanuck, Jr., to name just a few. His private field, still in use at the Will Rogers State Park, remains as the only polo field in Los Angeles and features matches throughout the season. One of the biggest cowboy actors of the early years of cinema was Tom Mix. He made a reported 336 films between 1910 and 1935, all but nine of which were silent features. He was Hollywood’s first Western megastar and is noted as having helped define the genre for all cowboy actors who followed. Film producers Hal Roach (Hal Roach Studios, Laurel and Hardy, Will Rogers, the Our Gang kids and many more) and Darryl F. Zanuck (head of 20th Century Fox) were avid players. The left-handed Roach won the Pacific Coast Open in 1934 and 1935 while Zanuck won the PCO in 1938 and was said to have had his riding crop (which he carried with him on the movie sets, weighted to the weight of his polo mallet. Cowboy stars Gary Cooper, Johnny Mack Brown, Jack Holt and his son Tim (who played for Culver Military Academy before he began acting), Guinn “Big Boy” Williams (who carried an impressive 5-goal handicap), were joined on the fields by film luminaries the likes of Clark Gable and Spencer Tracey.

The infusion of polo into the Hollywood community wasn’t limited to the extracurricular activities of the actors on the field. Movies with polo themes found their way onto the silver screen. In the silent movie, The Smart Set (1928), William Haimes with comedian Joey Brown playing the starring role in Polo Joe (1936). Edward G. Robinson found his way onto the field in the 1933 film Little Giant, in which he plays the part of a Chicago bootlegger who tries to break into California society on the polo field. Steve McQueen galloped down the polo field in the opening scenes of The Thomas Crown Affair (1968), and the Harold Robbins novel, The Adventurers, was transformed into a movie in 1969 featuring the exploits of a polo-playing Porfirio Rubirosa character.

Today’s celebrity polo players are limited to actor Tommy Lee Jones, America’s Most Wanted host, John Walsh, and actor Grainger Hines. “I think a lack of exposure is probably polo’s biggest deterrent,” said Cord. “If you turn on RFD Channel on television you continue to see roping, cutting and bull riding. Take, for instance, Kiefer Sutherland, the star of the TV series 24. He was very active in the roping field. Without a facility like the LA Equestrian Center at hand, there’s just no easy accessibility to the sport in Los Angeles anymore.”

EMPIRE POLO LIFESTYLE | 51

Brad Jason Miranda Blake Paisley Aldean Lambert Shelton Alabama Martina McBride • Kenny Rogers • Luke Bryan The Mavericks • Sara Evans • The Band Perry Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers • Chris Isaak Justin Moore • The Jayhawks • Eli Young Band

The JaneDear Girls • The Del McCoury Band • Brett Eldredge • Aaron Lewis Ralph Stanley & His Clinch Mountain Boys • Uncle Monk JD Crowe & the New South • Sara Watkins • Sunny Sweeney Dave Alvin and the Guilty Ones • The Unforgiven • Greensky Bluegrass Split Lip Rayfield • Elizabeth Cook • JD Souther • Old Man Markley

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The first games of polo were played in Persia (Iran) at dates given from around the 5th century BC, where it is credited to have originated. It was at first played as a training game for cavalry units, usually the kingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s guard or other elite troops. Polo was played extensively by the nobility and became the national sport. As the game was picked up by the nomadic warlike tribesmen who carried it across the vast expanses of Asia it was played by as many as 100 to a side, resembling a miniature battle. The game was adopted on the Indian subcontinent by the local kings and princes as well as being played by the Muslim rulers as marauding tribes spread the game east. In a dusty back alley near Anarkali Bazaar in Lahore stands a monument to Sultan Qutabuddin Aibak, a 13th century king who died when his pony fell during a polo match. The game was played by Caliphs, Princes, Emperors and Rajas, and eventually made its way to Europe, courtesy of the British Army. Because the sport demanded top horses and the ability to provide stabling and care for them, it was only natural that this exciting game would be enthusiastically supported and embraced by the royal houses of Europe. 54 | EMPIRE POLO LIFESTYLE

Prince William during the Foundation Challenge Charity Polo Match. Photo By Kim Kumpart

Photo

lo Team The Royal Salute Po Royal Salute for s age Im y ett by Charley Gallay/G

England’s Lord Wodehouse was the driving force behind the creation of international teams to face the Americans in the prestigious Westchester Cup series, supplying horses to the top players and participating in both the 1909 and the 1921 series. The Olympic games attracted some of Europe’s royals clan, with Wodehouse playing for Great Britain in 1908 and 1920; Conte Leopoldo de la Meza and the Marquise de San Juan Miguel represented Spain in 1920 and 1924; and Mexico’s Marquis de Villavieja taking the field in 1900. King Alfonso XIII was a champion of the sport and carried a 5-goal handicap at one point while England’s Lord Mountbatten is credited with being the backbone of the game of polo in the British hierarchy proving to be a positive influence on the play of both Prince Phillip and Prince Charles, while Lord Cowdray is credited with resurrecting the game in England following World War II. On one occasion, an assassination attempt on King Alfonso XIII while he was preparing to ride onto the polo field was foiled when the king spurred his mount into the perpetrator, knocking him to the ground where he was promptly gathered up by his bodyguards and whisked away. Baron Elie de Rothschild was the ramrod behind the French polo movement for decades, and although the participation of the royalty in the ranks of the polo community has been depleted over the years Brunei’s Prince Jeffri is joined by the King of Greece, the Maharaja of Jaipur, England’s Prince William and Prince Harry to assure that the “sport of kings” maintains its place in the game. Prince William’s visit to the Santa Barbara Polo Club was celebrated with a massive fund raising effort organized around a round-robin polo match. Royal Salute was one of a number of corporate sponsors that stepped up to the plate for the charity polo match, with Prince William riding onto the field with the Royal Salute team that included Jeep Holden, Andy Busch and Santiago Trotz. Audi was also a contributor to the American Friends of the Foundation of Prince William and Prince Harry, sponsoring the team of Marc Ganzi, Wesley Ru, Juan Bollini and Scott Devon.

The Royal Salute Te am: Santiago Trotz, Prince William, Andy Busch and Jeep Holden. Catherine, the Duche ss of Cambridge presented the troph y. Photo by Kim Kump art

American Express Centurion participated by sponsoring the Santa Barbara team of Melissa Ganzi, Nic Roldan, Glen Holden, III and Pat Nesbitt. Prince William and his team won the event capturing a beautifully fashioned 18-inch sterling silver and gold Tiffany trophy, with the Prince scoring four goals on the afternoon. The charity event is estimated to have raised nearly five million dollars, but it wouldn’t be the first time royals have shilled for fun raising efforts. Prince William’s younger brother Prince Harry made a couple of appearances in the Governor’s Island Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic along polo’s unofficial ambassador Nacho Figueras with all ticket proceeds benefitting the Prince’s charity, Sentebale. There’s no down peddling the fact that the sport of polo is an expensive pastime, but with continued international support, it appears that it will remain a favorite of the royals for at least another generation.

EMPIRE POLO LIFESTYLE | 55

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Arena Polo is played with three players per team in an enclosure that measures approximately 100 yards in length and 50 yards in width. Walls are suggested to be no less than 4â&#x20AC;&#x2122; in height.

While the larger size gives the new player confidence in learning to hit the ball, proper technique is necessary because the arena game is played on a dirt surface with the ball bouncing on the uneven surface and off the arena wall.

A regulation game consists of four chukkers/periods of seven and one-half minutes each. Riders change horses at the end of each chukker/period.

Arena Polo can be played either indoors or outdoors, days or nights under lights and, weather permitting, all year around. Many clubs only play Arena Polo due to the high cost of maintaining grass fields and the smaller field size required. Arena Polo Clubs usually have a school/student program with horses for rent to student players learning the proper way to play the game, the rules of play and proper riding techniques.

The basic rules of the game are similar to those in field polo, and are concerned with the safety of the horses and riders. Right-of-way, and line of the ball are two phrases that will be explained to you by the announcer. In the meantime, sit back and enjoy the action. Arena Polo does not require the large number of horses to play that Outdoor/Grass Polo demands. Many players use two horses, alternating horses each chukka/ period. The Arena Polo ball is similar to a mini soccer ball, larger than the small hard plastic ball used outdoors. 64 | EMPIRE POLO LIFESTYLE

Arena Polo is extremely exciting, with many changes in direction, fast action and a great spectator sport. Arena Polo can be an excellent introduction to polo and many of the players start in the Arena. With a qualified instructor, a new player can quickly learn proper hitting techniques and improve riding skills.

With the constant change of direction of play in the arena, the player learns to recognize and properly enter the line and right of way, change from offense to defense and the need for team play. By playing in a confined arena, players feel more secure and with the ball rebounding off the arena walls, a player has more opportunities to hit the ball. Horses, while moving with quick bursts of speed, are more under control. Players are taught proper team play, how to hit a pass to teammates, and to learn to anticipate opponentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s plays and strategies. Empire Polo Club hosts arena polo games, open to the public, every other Friday night throughout the winter season. Admission is FREE. Please check our game schedule at www.EmpirePolo.com for dates and times. The Empire Polo Stadium is located behind the Tack Room Tavern Restaurant on Ave. 51. Source: www.Polo101.com Photos by Jim Bremner/PoloZONE.com EMPIRE POLO LIFESTYLE | 65

“It’s the horse who wants to work for you that wins.”

Photos by Chris Miller / Imagine Imagery 66 | EMPIRE POLO LIFESTYLE

It was a blistery, 110-degrees outside the shop, and the sparks were flying. Christopher Wendell Kerley had been commissioned to make the trophy spurs for the Texas Open at Houston Polo Club. There was plenty of melding, grinding and polishing to do. Working like a modern-day blacksmith, the La Quinta artisan had already prepped a band of steel in the forge to bend it into a U-shape. With the shank welded on, and the rowels cut and set in place, it was time to customize. Kerley delicately placed hand-cut pieces of silver on the stainless shank with the precision of a jeweler setting precious gems. Never one to cut corners, the spurs and bits made by “CWK” are known and admired around the world.

His father, Wendell, played polo around the world, trained ponies and was likened to a gallant ballerina on a horse. Thundering over the turf at 35 miles-an-hour, it often looked as if “Wendy” was floating in mid-air. None of that has been lost on Kerley, a professional polo player himself who started hot-walking horses at the Santa Barbara Polo Club when he was 9. At 20, the kid who had a way with horses was hired by Gracida to school his thoroughbreds and keep them prepped for the fields. At the time, the Mexican national turned Palm Beach citizen was bursting with talent – brushing up against steeds ridden by British royalty the likes of Prince Charles, and collecting a sizeable share of American and British world polo cups.

“He has a gift,’’ Memo Gracida said, as the mythic Polo Hall of Fame ten-goal champion watched his son, Julio, ride to victory in the Pacific Coast Open Finals at Santa Barbara Polo Club. “These are the highest quality spurs and bits I have seen in my whole life.”

“Memo taught me to be a gentle, balanced rider,’’ Kerley says. “He was a big influence on me. He helped me understand a horse’s logic: The thoroughbred is very temperamental. Hot-blooded. I was always taught the softer you were with a thoroughbred, the more you’d get along with them. The more you got along with them, the harder they would try for you. “It’s the horse who wants to work for you that wins.”

Gracida bought his first set of spurs two years ago from Kerley, a second-generation horseman who sat on the back of a horse before he could walk.

Simple details make a huge difference in the horse world, Gracida said, explaining that Kerley’s bits and spurs are made in a way that a horse would not view as severe.

“They were beautiful – fantastic, wellbalanced. They fit very well.” Gracida said. “The classman-ship is superior.”

“Chris is not an aggressive handler,’’ Gracida said, and his work reflects that. “His bits and spurs are more like an aid for the horse.”

Gracida has purchased many more of Kerley’s Western-designed spurs and bits since, presenting them to family members and friends around the globe.

The rowels on the spur are round. The bits are not hard on a horse’s mouth. Weighted well, they are made in ways that get a horse to respond – stop, jump or turn -- in different ways.

Kerley’s waiting list is growing, as is his client list. It ranges from novice riders, and winners of tournaments like the C.V. Whitney Cup at Florida’s International Polo Club, to celebrities like William Devane. “I am one of his biggest fans,’’ Gracida said. Only three to four people in the world create what he has created, he explained: Kerley stands tall among them. “I can’t explain my love for silver work – except for it’s a lot like riding horses,’’ the 43-year-old Kerley said with a grin and a shrug. “It comes natural to me.” Born in Midland, Texas, Kerley spent his childhood in the beautiful coastal city of Carpinteria, where his mother, Joyce, gained notoriety as an artist and a show-jumper in the Olympic trials.

One bit Kerley fashioned has a copper roller set in a rounded spoon-like mouthpiece. “Horses love the taste of it, and spin it around in their mouth,’’ Kerley says. “It calms them down.” Horses are never far from his mind. “Every bit I make is based on what I like to ride the horses in,” he says. “I know what does and doesn’t work well.” And so, as effortlessly as it has been for the Kerley family to ride, so it seems it has been for the spurs, bits and buckles that Chris Kerley makes. No one is there to guide him: It’s just Kerley, the customer and the horse. For more information on Chris Kerley’s work, visit www.ChrisKerleySpurs.com EMPIRE POLO LIFESTYLE | 67

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Polo is one of the fastest, most exciting team sports in the world, combining the speed and agility of horses with the camaraderie and skill of players, in some of the most beautiful arenas and clubs around. You’ll find there is no other experience like it. Polo draws individuals and families from all walks of life. You may find yourself drawn to the swift pace and challenge of polo, or perhaps you’re interested in joining your passion for horses with a team sport. If you’re interested in learning more about polo and if you’d like to take a polo lesson, Empire Polo can help get you started. Do I need to know how to ride a horse? You may be surprised to know that you don’t need any riding experience to get started in polo. Many new players come into the sport with little to no riding experience, and learn to ride horses and play polo at the same time. The Empire Polo School uses seasoned polo ponies to ensure a safe and fun experience. What should I expect to learn in my first polo lesson? During your first lesson you’ll learn the fundamentals of hitting, receive an overview of the rules of polo and acquire some basic riding skills. Most of this instruction occurs while you are on a polo horse. If you are in a group lesson, we often organize an informal practice scrimmage during the second half of the lesson. What should I wear to my first polo lesson? Wear a pair of jeans, a comfortable shirt and a pair of riding boots. If you don’t have riding boots, wear a pair of shoes or boots with a short heel. Empire Polo School will provide you with a riding helmet if you don’t have one. Riding helmets are required, so if you have your own helmet, bring it along. What is the cost? Empire Polo Club offers a “2 for 1” lesson special for first-time students. Bring a friend and split the cost, or buy two lessons for the price of one. Private lessons are $150 per person. Group discounts are available if there are two or more students in a lesson. Call for details at 760-342-7755.

How do I sign-up for my first lesson?

Contact the Empire Polo School at 760-342-7755 or email: VickyOwens@EmpirePolo.com

The At Empire Polo Club

A tour of the sculptures, fountains, landmarks and points of interest at Empire

Since Alex Haagen III purchased the 175-acre parcel on the desert floor in 1987 and branded it Empire, he has gradually and deliberately raised it up to the 250-acre sustainable oasis it is today. Since then, the red and black colors, signature lions and crown on its crest have trademarked an empire that actually lives up to its name. The venues, the polo fields, the gardens and lakes all flow together in a park-like setting unified by an extraordinary blend of art and landscaping—the product of Alex Haagen III’s imagination and a talented staff of specialists. The Rose Garden Empire’s Rose Garden is one of the largest private rose gardens in the Western United States. Recent planting next to the polo fields have brought the numbers up to some 8,000 bushes and over 65 varieties, at last count in September, 2011.

The Next Play “The Next Play,” one of only five in the world, is a half-life-size bronze of pony and player at work, mallet raised and preparing for the near-side back shot. Procured for display in a private viewing area at The Masters 40-goal match held at Empire in 1990, this study in motion drew more attention than the 11-pound pure silver trophies awarded at the match. Artist Rich Roenisch.

She Gave Her Best “She Gave Her Best,” a privately commissioned near life-sized bronze of a standing, nearly stripped polo pony is the most striking for its realism and imposing presence atop an impressive stone base. Surrounded by a bed of roses, she now rests on a 4’ x 8’ base of imported white limestone adorned with brass plaques depicting the game. The monumental work is a testament to the sport’s real heroes, the ponies that power the game. Artist Rich Roenisch.

The Bronze Lions The latest acquisition to Empire’s art collection are two giant bronze lions that sit along the edge of the polo field overlooking the grandstands and rose garden. They are reminiscent of the four lions that guard Nelson’s Column in Trafalgar Square located in central London. The majestic cats were cast in Thailand and imported to the U.S. in January 2010. Republished in part from “Building an Empire” by Diane Hensley Photos by Alex Haagen, IV 74 | EMPIRE POLO LIFESTYLE

Medjhool Lake & Sculpture Garden To the west, lies Empire’s tribute to another kind of master, Claude Monet. Medjhool Lake and Sculpture Garden shares its tranquil sanctuary of indigenous and imported flora and greenery with a selection of wildlife, in bronze. Joining two sides of the lake are recreations of the green arched wooden footbridges Monet made famous in his paintings from Giverny. Floating beneath the bridges are masses of delicate water lilies Monet had also loved to paint. All along the path are bronzes of wildlife—birds, monkeys, tigers and unicorns, some with families and some stalking alone. Wrought iron benches provide respite for viewing at several scenic spots. A bronze crocodile’s long mouth and jagged teeth rise just above the waterline, his eyes set and darkened by the turquoise patina. A family of gorillas guarded by a giant Silverback male, huddles in the palms near the entrance, playfully at ease with food in hand. A unicorn at the water’s edge glances backward as if alerted by a predator. A life-size Bengal tiger stands at the entrance to the Tiki Hut. His stripes in vivid pink and white add whimsy contrast to the scene awash in greens and blues. The Angel of the Waters Angel of the Waters greets visitors as they enter the Empire Polo Club near Medjhool Lake. A female winged angel stands at the top blessing the water with one hand while holding a lily in the other, a symbol of purity. Four cherubs encircle the midsection of the fountain representing peace, health, purity and temperance. The fountain at Empire is a replica of the Bethesda Fountain in Central Park. The original fountain was designed by Emma Stebbins and unveiled 1873. The fountain was commissioned to celebrate the opening of the Croton aqueduct that purified the city’s water supply. Angel of the Waters was inspired by the Gospel of St. John 5:2-4: “Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called Bethesda whoever then first after the troubling of the waters stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had.”

Teak Mermaid A giant mermaid wood carving, an antiquity from a temple in Phuket, Thailand, was acquired in 2009 and is perched on the veranda at Medjhool Lake overlooking the fields and Olympic-peaked tents. In the same way the sea is both beautiful and dangerous, so goes the lore of the Mermaid down through the ages. Measuring more than 15’ in length and constructed entirely of teak, the reclining Mermaid had fallen victim to the Tsunami of 2007. Her expression, at peace among a wave of flowing hair and curvaceous upper body, opposes the scaled and spiny generous lower body and tailfin. The mermaid is about 300 years old and was washed from her resting place in a temple. She was found on top of a group of trees still standing on a side of a hill after the surge, more than 1,000 ft. away. EMPIRE POLO LIFESTYLE | 75

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2012 Events at Empire Polo Club

As a premier sports and special events facility, Empire Polo Club has become home to a number of annual events and festivals. This year we have two new events on our 2012 schedule: The Empire Polo & Wine Festival and the Coachella Valley CycleFest. January 5-8, 2012 KCPS Dog Show – The Kennel Club of Palm Springs Dog Show is one of the largest shows in the country. The show runs two days and is run by Jack Bradshaw Dog Shows. The Dog Show takes place at The Forum located at Empire Polo Club. For more information visit www.jbradshaw.com Held at Empire Polo Club since 1997

January 6th – April 1st, 2012 Polo Games at Empire Polo Club Polo games are open to the public and general admission is free. Featured matches are held on Friday nights at 6:00 PM and on Sundays at 12:00 and 2:00 PM. For more information about attending polo games, please see the season schedule page in this magazine or visit www.EmpirePolo.com 78 | EMPIRE POLO LIFESTYLE

January 14-15, 2012 Sand Storm Lacrosse Festival Presented by Synapse Sports and Lax West, Sand Storm is considered the premier winter lacrosse event on the west coast. Sand Storm is held on the playing fields at Empire Polo Club. For more information visit www.laxtournaments.com Held at Empire Polo Club since 2008

New January 29th, 2012 – Empire Polo & Wine Festival The 1st Annual Empire Polo & Wine Festival will feature wines from more than a dozen Temecula Valley wineries paired with a traditional day of Sunday Polo. For more information please refer to the Polo & Wine Festival AD in this magazine or visit www.EmpirePolo.com April 13 -15, 2012 Coachella Music & Art Festival April 20-22, 2012 Coachella (second weekend) The Coachella Music and Arts Festival (aka Coachella) is a 3-day music and arts festival organized by Goldenvoice. Held annually at Empire Polo Club, fans from around the world flock to the desert to hear live music performed by a multitude of bands featuring rock, indie, Hip Hop and electronic music. This year Goldenvoice is hosting two duplicate concerts back to back to accommodate all of the fans. For more information visit www.coachella.com Held at Empire Polo Club since 1999

April 28-29, 2012 Stagecoach California’s Country Music Festival The Stagecoach Country Music Festival, also presented by Goldenvoice, occurs the weekend after Coachella. Country music fans travel from near and far to enjoy some of the top artists and up and-coming bands in this genre. For more information visit www.stagecoachfestival.com Held at Empire Polo Club since 2007

Giving Back to The Community

Empire Polo Club gives back to the local community by providing support for local charity events and organizations. They donate their staff and facility for non-profit fundraisers, provide playing fields for local school sports teams and provide assistance for groups and clubs who are dedicated to helping others. American Youth Football League June – November. The American youth Football League uses one of Empire’s polo fields for their practices and games. New October 21 – 22, 2011 Coachella Valley CycleFest Empire Polo Club is a proud sponsor of the First Annual Coachella Valley CycleFest, an event that benefits the future of the Coachella Valley CycleFest as well as support the Coachella Valley Community Recreation Foundation and Coachella Valley Volunteers in Medicine. Both non-profit organizations are committed to health and wellness.

January 27-29, 2012 Indio Chamber Southwest Arts Festival The 2012 SW Arts Festival will showcase over 275 artists exhibiting and selling their work. All types of fine works of art and quality crafts are featured from traditional to contemporary and abstract. This includes: sculpture, paintings, photography, printmaking, custom metalwork, custom jewelry, ceramics, glass, and textiles. This years Southwest Arts Festival will once again be held at the renowned Empire Polo Club in Indio, California. For more information visit www.southwestartsfest.com or contact 760-347-0676. Held at Empire Polo Club since 2001

February 25, 2012 The Women’s Club of Indio 100th Anniversary The GFWC Woman’s Club of Indio is the oldest service club in the Coachella Valley, founded in 1912. Their club is dedicated to enhancing our community through active, committed, and civicminded participation through either direct service or monetary assistance. www.womansclubofindio.org March 5-6, 2012 American Cancer Society Relay for Life “Relay For Life is a life-changing event that gives everyone in communities across the globe a chance to celebrate the lives of people who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost, and fight back against the disease.” “At Relay, teams of people camp out at Empire Polo Club and take turns walking or running around a track. Because cancer never sleeps, Relays are overnight events up to 24 hours in length. No matter why you take part in Relay, however, one thing is clear: with every step you take, you are helping the American Cancer Society save lives.” www.Relayforlife.org Held at Empire Polo Club since 2002

EMPIRE POLO LIFESTYLE | 79

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The San Diego Polo Club is the place to be seen as polo players and aficionados alike flock to the fields in Rancho Santa Fe for one of the best parties in Southern California. With the beauty and pageantry of the sport, mixed with the fun and vibrant crowd of San Diego, you’ll be eagerly awaiting the next event.

THE SPORT: San Diego’s best outdoor sport is located right in Rancho Santa Fe, minutes away from the sparkling blue Pacific. We aren’t babbling about the Padres or the Chargers, we are talking about a thousand pounds of athlete thundering down the turf, chasing a 3-inch plastic ball. A gentleman’s sport, when a hot blooded player with cool head is a deadly combination. With teams from all over the United States, players love to spend the season in sunny San Diego, competing with old friends and new. The San Diego Polo Club welcomes all polo enthusiasts from a polo fan to a player. SDPC offers lessons 4 days a week; private lessons and riding clinics are also available. If you’re an actionseeker, play pick up games or sign up for 6-chukker matches. Any way you see it, the San Diego Polo Club has something for everyone. Join the San Diego Polo Club for a tournament in the summer, where summer is meant to be spent.

SanDiegoPolo.com; 858.481.9217

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Beach POLO Beach Polo, a variant of arena polo, has become the latest rage with the mallet and chukker set. Dubai’s Rashid Al Habtoor and Sam Katiela have been credited with the creation of the game in 2004, followed by the Miami Beach Polo World Cup in the United States in 2005. But the social side of the tournaments sometimes outweigh the level of competition in the sandy arenas. Sponsors ranging from AMG Mercedes and Grey Goose to Jaeger-LeCoultre and Hublot scramble to become part of the oceanside energy and festivity created by these scaled down versions of the “sport of kings”. Fireworks, fashion shows, DJs and live band performances and parties that go well into the night appeal to a larger viewing audience and have been credited with being just the enticements to lure new fans to the shores to witness the excitement and daring of top-level polo play. With minor variations and adjustments, the beach polo game is much akin to the field or arena game. A game of beach polo consists of two three-player teams as opposed to the usual four-player teams in field polo. A game consists of four seven minute periods of play, called chukkers. The game is played in an enclosed sand arena with sideboards of approximately four feet in height, designed to keep the ball in play. Depending on playing areas available, some of the playing arenas have enclosed ends while others allow for 20 yards of run out room for the horses, past the end line, and utilize standing goal posts. Two umpires are suggested for tournament play which may be stationed outside the arena to officiate the game. Penalties are called and resulting free hits are awarded to the fouled party. 86 | EMPIRE POLO LIFESTYLE

Traditional polo ponies are used with players changing horses following each chukker. Unlike the hard plastic ball used in field polo, beach polo employs a leather or rubber inflated ball no less than 12.5 inches in circumference. Other equipment employed is the same as that used in field or arena polo. Additional tournaments and matches have arisen in Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Chile, Colombia, England, Germany, India, Italy, Mexico, The Netherlands, Uruguay and Wales. With tournament competition ranging from an entry level in Germany to Miami Beach’s high-goal play, new fans of the game have been treated to performances by such international polo greats as Argentine 10-goaler Gonzalo Pieres, Mexico’s Carlos Gracida (9), USA 9-goaler Mike Azzaro and Australian 8-goaler Ruki Baillieu. In 2008, the International Beach Polo Association was established in an effort to increase the number of participating countries, assist in promoting these events, and to make rules and handicaps for this unique brand of polo more uniform. In 2009, the Miami Beach Polo Club inaugurated the first South Beach Women’s Polo Cup, a competition that fielded eight teams of women from six different countries. The overwhelming success of the women’s tournament promises to be a harbinger of future such tournaments and continuing growth and popularity of the beach polo movement. Following the 2010 AMG Miami Beach Polo World Cup, Matias Magrini (Argentina) became the first player elevated to a 10-goal handicap in the history of beach polo play. Source: www.Polo101.com

EMPIRE POLO LIFESTYLE | 87

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90 | EMPIRE POLO LIFESTYLE

By Alex Webbe

Let it snow,

In 1984, Swiss hotelier Reto Gaudenzi proposed the idea of playing polo on the frozen lake in the resort town of St. Moritz. The following year, on January 26th and 27th of 1985, the St. Moritz Polo Club organized and hosted the world premiere of the Cartier Polo World Cup on Snow on Lake St. Moritz. The snow polo tournament was an instant success and served as the social event of the season.

Let it snow!

The initial event hosted several hundred curious onlookers, but its popularity continued to grow to the point where thousands gather in heated corporate tents on the frozen lake venue. When word leaked out that after twenty-five years, Cartier, the event’s sponsor from the opening bell, was no longer going to sponsor the event, the city and supportive sponsors rallied around to insure that the snow polo would continue.

The matches are played at the highest level, with four teams fifteen to eighteen goal teams of the game’s elite race up and down the frozen field to the delight of the spectators.

The snow polo games are played on a snow packed arena surrounded by fencing created to keep the ball in play. Teams are usually comprised of three players, as in traditional arena polo play, A match consists of four 7-minute chukkers or periods of play, and the horses are shod with special

cleated shoes to provide better traction for the horses. The popularity of the game has led to the creation of a snow polo ball, a larger, lighter inflated ball, usually red or orange in color so as not to get lost in the snow.

Although the St. Moritz Polo World Cup on Snow is considered to be the world’s most prestigious and longest running snow polo tournament, other winter resorts have followed suit. Kitzbuhel, Austria; Cerro Chapeico, Argentina; Cortina, Italy; Aspen, Colorado, USA; and Moscow, Russia have all created snow polo events that offer similar entertainment to locals and visitors alike. In fact, 2011 witnessed the first snow polo tournament in china as the Tianjin Goldin Metropolitan Polo Club, with teams representing Argentina, Australia, England, France, New Zealand and the host’s team, Hong Kong Goldin.

EMPIRE POLO LIFESTYLE | 91

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