Record Crowd at Polo; Two Matches Remain in ‘09
Currently in its 18th season, the Newport International Polo Series set new attendance figures this season, with the Sept. 5th match setting the all time high, when USA played against England. The last two matches of the season are approaching, with USA playing against Argentina this Saturday, September 19th at 4pm, and the Regional Championship Finals on Saturday, Sept. 26th at 4pm. On Sat, September 19th at 4pm, USA will face its top rival in the polo world, Argentina, in the Newport International Polo Series. Argentina will be defending their 2002 victory on American turf. Argentina has become the undisputed world leader in the sport of polo in the past few decades, producing the world’s top players. Playing for Argentina will be James Gadea, Leo Mejia, Hernan Bianco and Manuel Julio Daz de Viivar. USA’s squad will include Ted and Rory Torrey, Sam Shore and Dan Keating. USA team captain Dan Keating states “We have been practicing extra hard to be prepared to meet this challenge. Our fans will witness an exciting match.” On Sat., September 26 at 4pm, the Finals will feature the home team, Newport battling against its most formidable regional rival from the Northeast this season in the culmination of a season-long tournament for a berth in this single-elimination championship match to conclude the 2009 season. Dating back more than 130 years, the polo matches are a unique and popular Newport summertime tradition enjoyed by the public. Visiting teams this season have come from as far away as India, Scotland, Chile, Ireland, Hungary, Jamaica, and England, as well as teams from the northeast circuit of polo clubs. Tickets to the matches are sold at the gate on the day of the match, beginning at noon. Tailgate picnics on the lawn are welcome with General Admission of $10.00 for adults, and children 15 & under are free. Bleacher seating in the grandstand is also available with General Admission. Tickets for box seating in the Subscribers Enclosure are also sold at the entry gates for $15/person and tables can be reserved for parties of 8 or more by purchasing the tickets in advance. Location: The Polo Series takes place on the polo grounds of Glen Farm, 715 East Main Road (Route 138) in Portsmouth, RI, six miles north of downtown Newport. Hot and cold food concessions at the matches and a full service bar on site make refreshments convenient for spectators, whether tailgating or in box seats. The Twisted Pony Bar is known for its craft beer selection, premium spirits and collection of boutique wines from all over the universe. Blupoint offers a mouthwatering raw bar at the international matches, and Grillmasters offers a standard menu every Saturday of grilled fare. To place orders in advance, contact Max’s Market in Newport 401-849-8088 or platters can be ordered from either on-site concessionaire: Grillmasters at 683-4155 Hutiii@cox.net or Bluepoint at blupoint@msn.com. But if you prefer your own cooking, then pack a tailgate picnic and cooler with iced down beverages to be doled out to the group huddled around the tailgate of your SUV. Whatever your choice, it can be consumed from field-side blankets and lawn chairs just a few feet away from the polo action. Matches in September begin at 4pm and last about two hours. The sprawling lawn and surrounding fields offer an opportunity for dog-lovers to bring their four-legged friends a lead for the afternoon, and Moms swear it’s the only activity their teenage kids are still willing to do with the rest of the family. Attire is smart- casual. Shopping for unique souvenirs includes hand-painted signature jewelry from Angela Moore to accessorize any sundress; classic handbags inspired by the sea from She Shells and official apparel of the Newport International Polo Series. This is the 18th season of the Newport International Polo Series, sponsored by the Carnegie Abbey Club, WCRB Classical Radio, NBC Channel 10, the Newport Daily News, Pearls Boutique Hotels, Barton and Gray Mariners Club, The Mooring Seafood Restaurant & Bar, Lufthansa, O2 Global Chauffeured Services, McGrath Clambakes, Northwestern Mutual Financial Network, Udderly Smooth/CVS and Bose, as well as promotional partners including The Preservation Society of Newport, Bird’s Eye View Helicopter Tours, America’s Cup Charters, the Newport Music Festival, the International Tennis Hall of Fame, Eastern Mountain Sports of Middletown and Newport County Visitor & Convention Bureau. “Without their help the Series would not be as extensive as it is,” explained Dan Keating, Polo Series founder. For more information about partnering with the Polo here. Glen Farm is a historic property owned by the Town of Portsmouth comprising the last 100 picturesque acres of a vast manorial farm in the Gilded Age that was noteworthy for raising blue ribbon livestock and credited for innovations to breeding and farming practices, and whose colonial settlement dates back to the 1600’s! Glen Farm’s classical stone barns, designed by the finest architects during the peak of the Gilded Age, and its park-like grounds were rescued from ruins and rehabilitated by the Newport Polo Club’s founder in the early 1990’s and thrive today as a vital equestrian and community recreational property and landmark of excellence. Read about its fascinating history! |