POLO SCENE
N E W S • NO T E S • T R E N D S • Q U O T E S
RACING HEAD TO POLO Two polo entries crowned Subhead champion at TB Makeover
CANTER CLIX
MAKING UP for lost time, the Retired Racehorse Project Thoroughbred Makeover was back bigger and
CANTER CLIX
Mike Groubert and That’s My Bertie were the 2020 champions in the polo division.
Benjamin Lynch and Ramses won the 2021 championship in the polo division.
18 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
better than ever after COVID-19 forced a postponement of the 2020 edition. Taking place at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky, Oct. 12-17, both 2020 and 2021 competitions were held, with champions crowned for each year. Competitors, 12 years or older, choose an off-the-track Thoroughbred to train in one of 10 disciplines. Trainers can register as a professional, junior or amateur. Horses must have raced on or after July 1 of the previous year. Training for the horse’s second career cannot begin before Dec. 1 of the previous year other than up to 15 allowable rides or training sessions, introducing discipline-specific skills. Over $100,000 in prize money is offered in the competition, with a champion crowned in each discipline. The 10 champions compete for the overall Thoroughbred Makeover champion. In the polo competition, four horses were initially entered for the 2020 edition, including Sara Kolenda’s Barwin; Willowbrook Polo’s That’s My Bertie; John Van Schaick’s Avabella; and Courtney Asdourian’s Quiet Dillon. In the end, Avabella was withdrawn and Quiet Dillon was sold prior to the competition, leaving just two. The win went to Willowbrook Polo’s That’s My Bertie (Baptistry - Fat Cat Bertie, by Tactical Cat), a 4-year-old Ohio-bred dark bay mare, trained by Mike and Andrea Groubert. The mare also was named Top Team horse. “This is our second year at the RRP Thoroughbred Makeover as a team, but we produce our horses together at home,” said Mike Groubert. “It’s a good feeling to finally win it!” Lindsey Partridge’s gray Kentucky-bred mare, Thunderous Affair was the overall 2020 Thoroughbred Makeover Champion. The pair competed in both freestyle and competitive trail. Willowbrook Polo also had two of the seven entries in the 2021 edition: Flugel Binder and Honest Gal. Other entries were Benjamin Lynch’s Ramses; Graci Brush’s Whateverusaydear, Lori Summers’ Hot Wine; Mary Wright’s Family Ties; and Miguel Questel’s Oxbow Flows. Entries were tested in both short work and stick and ball, with the top scoring horses advancing to a two-part final performance. Lynch’s Ramses (Pioneer of the Nile - Dancing House, by Tapit) received the highest score to take the polo division championship. Bred by Godolphin in Kentucky, the 3-year-old bay gelding also was named Best Conditioned and Lynch was named Top Amateur. A University of Kentucky graduate, Lynch was pleased with the gelding’s performance. “It’s been a great time having him. He’s a really easytempered horse,” he said. “It was wonderful for Godolphin to give him to me, and he was actually bred at Stonerside Farm where I work.” Donna Verrilli’s grey Maryland-bred gelding Forthegreatergood, ridden by Laura Sloan, was the overall 2021 Thoroughbred Makeover Champion. The pair competed in field hunters.
