Along the Sideboards
By Alex Webbe
April 20, 2009
Overshadowing all news this week has to be the loss of over 14 polo ponies as they were unloaded from the Lechuza Caracas trailers.
Lechuza Caracas was scheduled to play in the feature US Open match of the day at 3 pm. As they were preparing their horses for the day’s game, a couple of them reportedly collapsed and several others began exhibiting dizziness and seemed disoriented. One after another the horses began falling to the ground with accelerated heartbeats and increasing temperatures.
Screens were quickly assembled to shield the ailing horses from the public, but suddenly there didn’t seem to be enough of them. Veterinarians and nearly 200 volunteers began working to save the ailing animals. IVs were hooked up and the horses were packed in ice in an effort to reduce their temperatures, but one after another, the horses failed to recover.
“Our hearts go out to team Lechuza Caracas,” said John Wash, President of Club Operations, “and hope that a speedy answer can be obtained on what happened to their magnificent animals.”
The cause of illness and death has not yet been determined.
“The horses have been shipped intact to the state diagnostic lab,” said Palm Beach Equine veterinarian Dr. Paul Wollenman. “At this point we have no idea what caused this,” he added.
Necropsies and other testing to determine the cause is being conducted by Kissimmee Diagnostic and the State Veterinarian, Dr. Mike Scott, in conjunction with the Palm Beach Equine Clinic.
The subject of drug testing polo ponies resurfaced in the face of the day’s tragedy as calls to USPA Executive Director Peter Rizzo went unanswered.
On Saturday, Audi collected its third straight win by and clinched a berth in the semifinals of the US Open. Bad news for Zacara patron Lyndon Lea who suffered a season-ending broken collarbone in the final seconds of Zacara’s 13-11 win over Orchard Hill. His team missed qualifying for the semifinals by a single goal as a last second shot by legendary Carlos Gracida missed by inches.
The premiere of the South Beach Women’s Polo Cup has created so much interest that eight teams have been attracted to the first year event. The one-day event will precede the Fifth Annual Miami Beach Polo World Cup with Melissa Ganzi and her Audi team defending its 2008 title.
Paul LaVoie, CEO of the Lucchese boot company was holding court poolside at the International Polo Club over the weekend as the company introduced their boots to a polo audience who was reminded of the company’s long-standing relationship with polo. Accompanied by Texas Polo’s Vinnie Meyer, the Lucchese design team was in town for a trunk show to display many of their current products and test the market on new ones.
The writing is on the wall for the final season of Outback Polo. With plans by IPC to expand its range of polo and the creation of additional and competitive polo at other venues in the immediate area Phil Heatley did everything but put a going out of business sign on the barn door.
The Hobe Sound Polo Club has been quietly erecting a polo arena for its facility. Under the direction of polo manager Vincent Mesker it appears that the arena might be used for lessons, clinics and friendly competition in an effort to expand the appeal of the club and offer an entry level of polo to the general public.